More than 200 couples in Guangzhou chose to wed on the traditional Lantern Festival on Thursday, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

　　In Haizhu District, the district's civil affair bureau registered 40 couples in one day. The marriage registration center said many people chose to marry during the festival, and the day was fully booked by early morning.

　　The staff also suggested people book several weeks ahead of their desired registration date to avoid disappointment.

　　The Tianhe marriage registration center registered 47 couples on the festival day. A man surnamed Chen said after registration that he was happy to have his wedding anniversary on the Lantern Festival, a few days after the Spring Festival holidays.

　　In Dongshan District, the registration center also registered 35 couples.

　　The number of registrations came as a surprise as 2005, the Year of the Rooster, is considered unlucky for marriage.

　　Meanwhile, the divorce rate also reach a peak after the seven-day Spring Festival holidays.

　　A total of 24 couples registered divorces in the Tianhe District registration center in four working days.

　　A staff member at the center said because so many couples chose to register marriages before the Spring Festival to avoid marrying in the Year of the Rooster, divorces were delayed to after the Chinese New Year's holidays.

　　The five couples who divorced on the Lantern Festival had waited at least two weeks, and those who booked a divorce registration Thursday will have to wait at least one month to register.