A salesman from a rural Chinese town received a surprise when he decided to wed his Ukrainian girlfriend of one year.

Mr He Pengwei, from Yangcheng county in the north-western Shanxi province, was shocked to learn that his bride, Ms Inesa, did not want a "bride price", reported the South China Morning Post on Wednesday (March 14).

In an interview with local news portal China.com, Mr He's father He Jianguo had said: "The girl's family didn't ask for a bride price, and didn't demand that we buy a flat or a car."

He added that his son had a simple wedding that only took a week to prepare.

"Our relatives said they had never seen any groom taking it so easy before the wedding," he said.

The couple, who tied the knot last Thursday (March 8), earned the adoration of many residents from Mr He's hometown and social media users too.

Residents reportedly flocked to the couple's nuptials, after a video of the bride in a traditional Chinese wedding dress and the groom in a suit was shared on social media.

Mr He met Ms Inesa, whose surname was not revealed, in Beijing and the couple dated for a year.





According to SCMP, Mr He and his new wife plan to start their own business in Yangcheng and visit Ukraine in two years to have a Ukrainian-style wedding there. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM WEIBO



According to China.com, Ms Inesa was attracted to Mr He's warmth and kindness, while he liked her cheerful and outgoing personality. Their ages were not disclosed in the report.

The bride price remains a common tradition in China and involves a hefty gift from the groom or his parents to the bride's family before a wedding.

It can take the form of money or property, such as a car or a flat, which means that it can be worth thousands of dollars.

Many couples from Asian countries, including Singapore, continue to follow this tradition, but it is not practised in Ukraine and other European countries.

According to SCMP, Mr He and his new wife plan to start their own business in Yangcheng and visit Ukraine in two years to have a Ukrainian-style wedding there.

Said Ms Inesa, who moved to Beijing four years ago to immerse herself in Chinese culture: "The weather is good and the people are nice. My in-laws treated me very well."

Mr He, too, was brimming with joy.

He was quoted as saying: "We have very good chemistry. Even though we have conflicts, we are very tolerant towards each other. I'm very lucky to have met such a good woman."