Thousands of couples have flocked to registry offices today (04.01.13) to tie the knot on a date that when spoken aloud in Cantonese - "one three," "one four" or yat sang-yat sai - means life-long love until death.

Images taken at one registry office in Beijing alone show hundreds lining the streets, waiting to marry on this day. In Hong Kong the Immigration Department received over 550 notices from couples wishing to register to be wed on the special date.