Houston Community News >> Wedding in Chinese Coal Mine
12/4/2006 BEIJING - A Chinese
coal mine has made the news for a reason other than the grim series of accidents
nationwide -it is claiming a world record for the the highest number of
simultaneous weddings held underground.
The Datong Coal Group in Shanxi province held weddings for 10 miners on Saturday
300 metres (1,000 ft) down the pitshaft, the People's Daily said on Monday.
"The weddings were unprecedented nationwide, even worldwide," mine manager Liu
Suisheng told the newspaper. "We're going to apply to Guinness World Records."
China has the world's deadliest coal mining industry with fatal accidents
occurring almost daily as safety regulations are ignored and production is
pushed beyond safe limits in the rush for profit.
The weddings aim to "lessen the depressing impression" of the mining industry,
Liu told the newspaper.
"Marrying the man I love in his workplace is really meaningful to me," one of
the brides, 22, was quoted as saying.
"I had been considering a unique wedding, but never thought of down a
mineshaft."
(Contributed by Chinadaily)