A traditional Chinese wedding is held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on Sept 21. [Photo/Tide News]

A traditional Chinese wedding held on Sept 21 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, offered couples a culturally rich alternative to conventional ceremonies, spotlighting the city's historic architecture and intangible heritage.

Set in a taimen — a classical Shaoxing-style courtyard featuring a front gate, inner hall, side wings, and garden—the ceremony integrated elements of local culture, including yellow rice wine, calligraphy, and ancestral rituals.

Organizers said the event was part of the city's broader effort to promote "modern weddings" that emphasize simplicity, heritage, and emotional sincerity over extravagance.

At the heart of the ceremony was a symbolic "wine-opening" ritual: the bride's father unsealed a jar of yellow rice wine that had been buried at her birth, in accordance with the local tradition of "brew at birth, open at marriage". The gesture served as a poignant reflection of family values passed down through generations.

A traditional Chinese wedding is held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on Sept 21. [Photo/Tide News]

The event took place near the former residence of Xu Wei (1521–1593), a renowned artist, poet, and military strategist. Guests experienced a blend of visual artistry and living tradition as newlyweds walked beneath hand-carved eaves, surrounded by the scent of aged wine and ink-dipped calligraphy scrolls.

"The significance of this ceremony lies in the convergence of three symbols of Shaoxing culture: the courtyard, the wine, and the brush," said one organizer. "Hosting weddings in such spaces invites young couples to connect with the city's legacy, making each vow a bridge between past and present."

Shaoxing authorities plan to expand the initiative by developing heritage-themed wedding tourism, drawing couples from across China to celebrate in the city's historic neighborhoods.