A mass wedding gathering new couples from all China's ethnic groups will be held in September at the China Pavilion in the World Expo site.

Wenchuan in Sichuan Province and Yushu in Qinghai Province, which suffered from massive earthquakes, will also send a couple each to take part in the wedding, organizers said.

Each couple will wear traditional costumes and perform ancient Chinese wedding rites.

"The event is expected to display the traditional wedding customs of ethnic minorities," said Han Bo, an official with the event's organizing committee. "Meanwhile we also expect that all ethnic groups could become more united through the event."

A wedding exhibition displaying traditional Chinese wedding costumes and props will also be held at the Shanghai Folk Museum near the Expo site, organizers said.

(Shanghai Daily May 27, 2010)