As traditional music filled the air, an extraordinary showcase of Han Chinese wedding attire unfolded, heralding the opening of the Changchun Matrimonial Customs Exhibition. Stepping into the hall, over 300 cherished folk artefacts guide visitors on a century-long journey through the realm of love and marriage.

A bride’s sedan chair stood at the heart of the exhibition, which is the immersive ‘first stop’ that drew visitors in. A vibrantly recreated 1970s–80s wedding chamber came to life with a bright red double happiness character, peony-adorned bedding, and a retro black-and-white television. Nearby, the ‘Four Big Must-Haves’ of the 80s and 90s—a bicycle, sewing machine, wristwatch, and radio—evoked the material dreams of generations past.

Younger guests remarked on seeing the weddings their parents had so often described—recognising objects and settings that echoed their own childhood memories. For older visitors, long-lost moments were tenderly revived; though time may have faded their wedding photos, the exhibition reawakened cherished memories, transporting them back to the joy and romance of their own special day.