(Photo/West China Metropolis Daily)

A group wedding for three inmates and their spouses held on August 11 at a prison in southwestern China's Sichuan province. The special moment, witnessed by more than 200 prisoners, restruck hope in them for the future.

One of the inmates, Wang Lei, is serving a 10-year sentence for drug production. His girlfriend Jingjing, who is in deep love with him, persuaded her father to finally agree to their marriage.

When Wang started serving the sentence, he did not want Jingjing to wait for him because she was in her prime of life. However, the spoony woman never contemplated giving up. The two finally registered for marriage last June with the guidance of prison authorities.

According to regulations, Jingjing can visit Wang twice a month in prison as his wife. Though she has only half an hour every time, she is quite satisfied with this, saying her waiting was worthwhile. She promised to continue to wait for him till he finally returns home.

It was the first time in 60 years that the prison held a group wedding for prisoners. A prison employee, Zeng Hongbin, said they hope the wedding would encourage inmates to be more positive about their future.

The love stories of the three prisoners touched many of their cellmates, envisioning in them the eventuality of returning to family and society.

According to Zeng, the prison has also made efforts in other fields such as the education of prisoners' children, land acquisition and payment of relocation compensation.

"These measures reflect the prison's humane care of inmates. We hope they correct their mistakes and return to society earlier," Zeng said.