From the ceiling hung a pair of wood dragons and a phoenix, while small bridges and pavilions in the traditional Chinese style, along with red lanterns, decorated the residence for the nuptials.

The family even drained their enormous fish pond a year before so it could be used as the location to erect a stage for the grand wedding, according to reports.

Viral online pictures show the bride wearing a necklace adorned with about 100 gold bangles which are so heavy she is bent forward slightly, clearly weighed down.

The wedding organiser arranged for 50 female usherettes, strikingly dressed in red, and dancing troupes to perform ancient dances such as zhi ci qing lu.

Guests at the feast were served the most expensive food such as king crab, lobster, shark fin soup, edible bird’s nests, and Australian abalone. Each table was allocated a bottle of the high-end Chinese liquor, Kweichow Moutai, the bill for which was 1.5 million yuan (US$210,000).

One of the guests, who shared a video clip of the nuptials on Douyin, said: “I feel like I had travelled through time to attend a wealthy noble family’s wedding in an ancient era.”

A board on the stage displayed the groom’s name as Ye Dingfeng and his bride as Yang Hanying.

It is believed the groom is the son of Ye Guochun, the chairman of China’s leading gold jewellery retailer Lao Feng Xiang.

Yang is said to be the daughter of a manager who works for the brand in a northern province. The company has not denied the speculation.

“It has broadened my horizon. Poverty limits my imagination,” one online observer said.

“Compared to this magnificent wedding, any novelist describing extravagant weddings will find they are too conservative,” said another.

The Fujian wedding was held as authorities across the country called on the public to boycott extravagant events.

Many local governments are advocating frugality and are holding group weddings for dozens or even hundreds of couples.