Rules changed in 2003 make it easier for couples to untie the knot, but trend may worsen in end-of-year nuptial rush
Guangzhou has seen a sharp rise in the number of divorces in recent years, and officials say it is a result of more streamlined procedures for tying - and untying - the knot.
Between November 2003 and March last year, the number of divorces in the city rose twofold to 4,996, compared with 2,168 in the same period a year earlier.
In some of Guangzhou's most populous districts, divorces rose by 40 per cent or more last year.
For instance, the Haizhu district recorded 1,500 divorces last year, 50 per cent more than the previous year. The number of divorces in Dongshan district rose 42 per cent to 1,379 cases, according to district Civil Affairs Bureau figures.
Officials said a higher number of marriages - particularly towards the end of the Year of the Monkey - pointed to a worrying trend, as it may imply hasty decisions.
The turn in the divorce trend took place in October 2003 with the introduction of amendments to the marriage registration regulations. Previously, couples needed to get a letter from their work units before they could get a divorce.