A special ceremony took place in Jinxian County, eastern China's Jiangxi province on Oct. 7. At the event, 99 couples who have been married for more than 50 years gathered at a local forest park to renew their marriage vows in advance of the upcoming Double Ninth Festival, a traditional Chinese festival that encourages respect for the elderly.

The couples were all dressed in suits and wedding gowns. Zhang Guanglong, 87, has been married to his wife, Zou Guiying, for 63 years. Zou had never worn a wedding dress before. She said it made her very happy to dress up in such a beautiful gown. Other participants included 91-year-old Guo Wenxi and his 82-year-old wife, Li Liuzai, married for 65 years. The love of the couples touched everyone who witnessed the event.