Each year on May 20, couples in China register for marriage or demonstrate their love for each other, as the way the date is pronounced in Chinese sounds similar to the words for "I Love You".
Given Shanghai's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, some couples in the city are choosing to buy flowers online to celebrate the special day to reduce the risk of infection.
Pang Xueting, head of grocery store Dingdong Macai's Baotun Road distribution center in Huangpu district, told China Daily on Friday that they have received around 2,000 online orders for flowers every day since Monday.
"Many bought roses to express their affection to their loved ones, and even their families," she said, adding that the store's online platform has a range of rose bouquets for buyers to choose from.
Bouquets of red, pink and champagne colored roses are most popular according to Peng, who said that flower supplies and deliveries were now more stable as a result of joint efforts by the city government and businesses in recent weeks.
"Now, the delivery can be completed the day the order is placed," she added.
Shanghai-based online news outlet ThePaper, reported on Friday that staff at fresh produce supermarket, Hema Fresh, which has a branch on Guangling Second Road in Hongkou district had also prepared a range of bouquets, mostly roses and carnations, for residents to celebrate the day despite the epidemic.
Chen Peng, head of the store, told media that staffs have been arranging deliveries since Wednesday. "Our goal is to get the flowers to their recipients on time," he was quoted as saying by the news portal. "Some residents bought flowers not only to show their love, but also to brighten up their lives during lockdown."
Zheng Rong, a Shanghai resident, believes in trying her best to love and make life better, even if that is difficult sometimes.
On Friday, she received an e-mail from her husband, who is working on the front line of the epidemic in Pudong New Area, and has not returned home since March 30.
She said that the letter was a good way to mark this special period, adding that love allows people to stay strong, no matter what form it takes.
As a result of the outbreak, getting married on May 20 is difficult this year, but some partners have still decided to go ahead, after taking epidemic control measures.
The Paper reported that one couple had completed registration in Shanghai's Chongming district by 9:30 am on Friday.
It said that the district's marriage and adoption registration center is operating a reduced service, adding that it will resume full operations from May 23.
Couples may make an appointment for registration online, and those coming to the center should have their temperature scanned and show negative nucleic acid test results.
