Chinese octogenarian marries Internet lover

CHINA: An 81-year-old Beijing man on Monday married a woman he met and wooed over the Internet, a Beijing newspaper reported.

"The Internet does not just belong to the young," said groom Wu Jieqin, a retired art professor.

"There's no rule saying the elderly can't find love on the Internet," said Wu, after kissing his bride to long applause, Jiang Xiaohui, 58, at the wedding, said the Beijing News.

Wu proposed on bended knee to the woman who answered his personal ad on a matchmaking website. He met Jiang after a series of other virtual dates.

"I was smitten when I first saw her photo," said Wu.

The couple chatted on-line before Wu traveled to the southwestern Sichuan Province to meet Jiang in person.

Jiang said she was attracted by Wu's optimism and passion. "He is romantic," she said.

However, Jiang had to overcome strong opposition to the union from her parents, who are aged 85 and 86.

BEIJING, Tuesday, Xinhua