The rise of modern ceremonies

Hu Mengdi, 25, started learning about balloon party planning in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, in May 2023.After completing her training, Hu established her own business.

"Most people in this industry are young, born in the 1990s," she observed.

Since then, Hu has organized nearly 200 themed balloon parties within just one year in her hometown of Xichang, a smaller city in Sichuan.

One of her most cherished events was for five elderly women who wanted to celebrate Father's Day for their husbands. While 80 percent of Hu's clients are young adults in their 20s and 30s, these women allowed her to see that romance knows no age limits.

"Life is more than just surviving. The small surprises from a simple ceremony make our daily existence brighter," Hu said.