An 86-year-old man in China married his first love, a former fellow student at Peking University, 60 years after they met. The wedding sparked widespread interest and the elderly couple received heartfelt blessings from the entire Chinese online community.
The groom, Zhou Guilin, from Yiyang city in Hunan province arranged the nuptials for April 14. The affection between the couple was evident and the wedding quickly became a sensation on continental social networks.
He Zhou had been a law student at Peking University, one of the most prestigious in China. He later founded Gaoping High School in his hometown and was its first principal, dedicating his life to education.
She. Her 81-year-old girlfriend, Yang Xiugui, who studied at the same university, once shared a youthful and beautiful love with Zhou during their student days. Despite their deep connection at the time, they went their separate ways and went decades without seeing each other.
They get back together. Teachers working at Zhou’s school told BaiLu Video that Zhou and Yang had started families after separating. It wasn’t until their spouses passed away that the two reconnected and found joy again in each other’s company.
The reunion strengthened them and the couple decided to spend their remaining years together, formalizing their union with a wedding. According to the videos, the ceremony was simple but adorned with many thoughtful decorations.
There were heartfelt poems scattered about, such as: “For sixty years, like swallows parting, no brocade book could capture the depth of our longing. A century of sincere hopes and now, by the light of the red candles, we write our first love again.”
The ceremony. During the festivities, the bride danced, sang and played drums happily, adding to the lively atmosphere of the group that had gathered to celebrate. A friend of the couple, surnamed Chen, revealed that the intimate banquet comprised just three tables, attended only by close friends and family – a small reception by traditional Chinese standards.
The story resonated deeply with many people online, who saw it as a celebration of lasting love and a fulfilled life. “This is true love. Even at his age, he made sure to welcome the bride lively, not just silently. Nowadays, many who get married are not willing to put in that much effort,” said one person.