BEIJING: A highly unlikely set of nuptials has taken place in China with a pair of twin brothers marrying twin sisters.
Not only that, both sides have a pair of twin uncles.
A wedding photo featuring four sets of twins went viral online recently, racking up more than 10 million views.
According to the mainland media outlet Jiupai News, the two couples only discovered on the wedding day that their uncles were also twins.
The wedding host called it a “miracle”, and the guests were equally astonished and thrilled.
One villager told the media: “I have lived over 60 years and have never seen anything like this before. I wish them a lifetime of even more happiness.”
According to Jimu News, the two couples, both in their twenties, are from Fuyang, Anhui province, central China.
The two families live close to each other and although their parents met 20 years ago, they were not very familiar with each other at the time.
In 2022, through a matchmaker, the Shan sisters met the Song brothers.
The eldest sister recalled that they initially thought they were too young to date, but they could not resist the brothers’ relentless pursuit.
She said that her in-laws often mix her up with her younger sister and her own parents also confuse the twin brothers.
However, the couples rarely confuse each other, as years of spending time together have made them familiar with each other’s appearances and personalities.
The twin brothers live in separate homes located in different areas.
The two families are now reportedly seeking to secure a Guinness World Record for being “a family with four pairs of twins”.
Their story has caused a buzz on mainland social media.
One online observer said: “There truly are bizarre coincidences in the world. This is a perfect example of good things coming in pairs.”
“Imagine if these two couples each had a pair of twins. I wonder how packed this big family would be,” said another.
Research shows that the chances of having twins likely depend on a mix of genetic and environmental factors. The chances vary depending on the type of twins.
While multiple pairs of identical twins in one family are extremely rare, factors like a mother’s body type, age, diet and family history can influence the likelihood of twins.
In Baimu village, Meishan city, Sichuan province, southwestern China, at least 33 pairs of twins have been born over the past few decades.
Locals call it the “Twins Village”, attributing the high rate of twins to fertile soil and water sources, though there is no scientific backing for this claim. - South China Morning Post
