More than 6,000 Taiwan couples got married Thursday, believing it was a lucky day as it had a string of nines - a lucky number - in it.

The reason for the celebration was that according to Taiwan's calendar, which began with the founding of the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal title - in 1911, Thursday is the ninth day of the ninth month of the 99th year of its calendar.

For Chinese people, nine, which also means everlasting, is a lucky number. When two or more nines run together, it is more auspicious.

According to the interior ministry, by 5 p.m. Thursday, 6,063 couples had registered their marriage, 30 times the number of marriage registrations on a normal day, and more than the total number of marriages in August - 5,453 unions.

In the capital Taipei, 193 couples joined a group wedding held by the Taipei city government.

As the clock struck the magic time, the ninth second of the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the 99th year, 9-9-9-9-99 - couples exchanged rings and kissed, with Taipei Mayor Hau Long-bin wishing them everlasting happiness.