Fujian billionaire marries off daughter with gold-laden dowry
Fujian Wanli chairman bestows more than a billion yuan as dowry
The wedding took place in Cizao town, Jinjiang county, in eastern China's Fujian province.
Pictures of the wedding were posted on the internet on Sunday, showing a dowry that included four boxes of gold jewellery, a bankbook with deposits worth 20 million yuan and Wanli stock worth 5 million yuan.
On the list were also numerous property assets including a retail store in Quanzhou, and real estate such as the Olympic villas and the Wanda mansion.
The internet post, labelled “eight day open-air banquet”, claimed that the wedding banquet that began on December 28 would last eight days to entertain public guests.
Wu also gave donations worth 15 million yuan to two local charity organisations.
A member from Wanli management, responding to a media inquiry, confirmed Wu’s endowment. The person, however, denied that the banquet would last eight days and said that Wu would “keep things simple”.
The bridegroom, surnamed Xu, is a resident of Quanzhou prefecture, in Fujian, and a civil servant. The newly wed couple had known each other since childhood and were classmates from kindergarten to secondary school, according to the report.
Many weibo users praised Wu for donating to charities on the occasion. Others admired him for his love for his daughter.
Bestowing expensive dowries has long been a Fujian marriage tradition, particularly in the Jinjiang and Shishi areas.
The tradition is sometimes seen as a manifestation of gender inequality in the area. Expensive dowries are meant to ensure that the bride will be treated well by her husband and in-laws.
