Cupid's arrow strikes hearts in China

    One day before Valentine's Day, Lei Lei received the exact present she had been longing months for -- a divorce from her alcoholic husband.

    "That's probably the best gift I have ever received in my 1-year-long marriage," the Shanghai woman said.

    Lei's husband repeatedly refused to sign the divorce papers. The court finally had to rule for the end of their marriage.

    It might not be the stereotypical way to celebrate Valentine's, but Lei is representative of a growing trend in China.

    In 2008, the Ministry of Civil Affairs reported 1.55 million divorces throughout the country, a 10.6 percent year-on-year increase.

    The divorce allows Lei to begin her love life over again. "Maybe I will start to date on Valentine's night," she said. "I cannot wait to embrace a new life without drunken ravings."

    TYING THE KNOT

    As Lei was rejoicing over the end of her marriage, thousands inBeijing were getting ready to tie the knot.

    "It brings double happiness to register on the special day," said Li Yunshi, who just finished registering for a marriage application online.

    According to the Municipal Civil Affairs Administration, more than 2,000 Beijing couples filed for marriage on Valentine's Day, which falls on a Saturday.

    The figure is at least three times as many as a typical Saturday. There are also 1,300 more couples registered this year compared to last year's Valentine's Day.

    "Saturdays are always big days for marriage registration. This Saturday is even bigger because it's Valentine's day," said Zhou Baojun, director of the marriage registry for the city's Xicheng District.

    "Also, many young couples met their new family members during the Spring Festival holiday and the time for their marriages is ripe," Zhou added.

    She said all ten of her staff will begin work at 8 a.m., half an hour earlier than usual to handle the crowds.

    "We have also borrowed the 200-square-meter civil affairs hall outside the registry to accommodate applicants throughout the day."

    VALENTINE SAVERS AND REVELERS

    Liu Aiming won't be getting married on Valentine's day because he is still trying woo his girlfriend.

    The 21-year-old, from rural Henan, one of the country's major agricultural provinces, was holding a bouquet of roses on a bus.

    They cost him 168 yuan (24 U.S. dollars), or almost one-fifth of his monthly waiter's salary.

    "These are the only flowers I buy during the year and it's first time I've spent so much on a gift," he said.

    He was spending money on his Valentine, but many this year are not because of China's economic downturn.

    Articles such as, "How to create more romance with less expense" were popular on Internet forums. It suggests sending sweet text messages, going window shopping and baking heart-shaped cakes as alternatives to wine-and-dine packages or expensive flower bouquets.

    Some netizens even argued that broccoli is a more pertinent Valentine present than roses this year.

    However, flower shop owners like Li Jing disagreed.

    "Although the lingering drought over the country has led to a 30- percent rose price hike, my business has not been affected," said Li, a florist in Huayuxianhua Flower Shop in central Beijing.

    It's because he has customers with the same idea as Liu Aiming who said, "Anyways, the holiday is only once a year."

    EVERY DAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY

    A widower and widow in Gangou Village of Anxian County, one of the worst quake-hit regions in southwestern Sichuan, didn't know they could be celebrating an imported holiday on Saturday.

    "It's Valentine's Day? I did not know that," said Lin Xingcong, who was busy carrying bricks. "It's a new concept in the countryside."

    Lin and his new wife Li were busy trying to build a new house and a new life together after they lost everything in the May 12 earthquake.

    "We have agreed to put the pictures of our deceased spouses on the bedside tables," said Li Xiangyun. "We both understand each other's way of expressing love."

    Like many people living in rural China, Valentine's Day remains a foreign concept.

    "Since construction of our new house will finish in a week, I guess that is the best gift we can give each other." Liu said.

    Li and Lin married to "support each other financially and psychologically" and to them, everyday is like Valentine's Day.