Chinese 'orphan', 24, worried no one would attend wedding holds open invite to wedding online, thousands show up with gifts - Mothership

A man in China who had almost no relatives to attend his wedding decided to make a public invitation on the internet.

Thousands answered the call, travelling from all across China to participate in what was dubbed the "wedding of the century".

Many brought gifts, while others arrived days in advance to help with wedding preparations.

24-year-old Xu Chenghong, known by his Douyin handle "Xiao Xiao Xu", had a tough childhood in Yunnan, China.

According to a video he posted on Douyin, his father passed away when he was three while his mother remarried two years later.

Xu's grandmother also passed away two years later, leaving Xu and his older brother to depend on each other.

Because of these incidents, Xu refers to himself as an "orphan".

After dropping out of junior high school, he grew up working odd jobs like delivery and construction, eventually saving up enough money for his wedding.

Fearing that the couple's lack of close relatives meant that the wedding would be a quiet affair, Xu posted a video on Douyin on Oct. 25, inviting netizens to attend the wedding banquet on Oct. 31.

He was expecting 10 to 20 attendees from around the area.

The day before the wedding, thousands of guests showed up.

According to a Sichuan news outlet that attended the event, the wedding's lively atmosphere could be heard from at least a kilometre away, while vehicles lined the rural roads as part of the wedding procession.

Cars with licence plates from provinces like Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangdong and Fujian were also seen at the venue.

An attendee told the media outlet that he had travelled from Guangdong after being moved by Xu's video.

"It has not been easy for him. We just wanted to come and join in the fun and support him," the man said, adding that he invited others along on their long journey to Yunnan.

The wedding square was also reportedly decorated with wedding banners.

According to Chinese media outlet The Paper, guests brought food like pork and vegetables, freezers and heaters were delivered, others helped with setting up the venue, and some offered photography, styling and makeup services.

Chefs showed up to cook meals for free, while volunteers helped to coordinate the event.

Xu's brother also partook in the preparations, providing directions and assistance to guests where he could.

"People have come all this way, and what I fear most is not letting them eat well," he told the media.