Valentine's Day around the world - in pictures

Zhuji city, China: Jin Juhua kisses her husband, Zhong Weiqiao, at a gathering of couples who have been married for over five decades Photograph: Guo Bin/EPA

Lisbon, Portugal: A woman holds Valentine's Day balloons to hand out on a street in the city Photograph: Rafael Marchante/Reuters

Beijing, China: A vendor selling roses and another selling heart-shaped balloons wait for customers Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP

Taipei, Taiwan: Couples kiss during a mass wedding ceremony to mark Valentine's Day Photograph: Nicky Loh/Reuters

Rome, Italy: A woman dressed in a burlesque costume draws a motorcyclist's windscreen with a lipstick during a flash mob to mark Valentine's Day in downtown Rome Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Dressed in traditional Chinese wedding costumes, two Thai helpers assist as they hold two rabbits during the rabbits' wedding ceremony at an animal park Photograph: Pongmanat Tasiri/EPA

Hanoi, Vietnam: Young people browse for Valentine's Day gifts at a shop Photograph: Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images

Sofia, Bulgaria: A Bulgarian carries a red heart balloon for Valentine's Day as he passes by a column decorated with hearts Photograph: Valentina Petrova/AP

Ramallah, West Bank: A Palestinian boy sells flowers for Valentine's Day Photograph: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters

Shanghai, China: People look at prospective partners for their children during a matchmaking event at People's Square Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

London, England: Aquarists Kathryn O'Connor and James Oliver take part in a blessing on Valentine's Day in the ocean reef display in the London Aquarium. The couple, dressed in wedding finery and breathing apparatus, received their blessing surrounded by giant green sea turtles, cownose rays and shoals of colourful fish Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Beijing, China: Women pose for photographs with a picture board displaying a wedding portrait of lesbian brides during a promotion campaign in support of same-sex marriage Photograph: Petar Kujundzic/Reuters

Managua, Nicaragua: A cocker spaniel called Blondie is greeted after her wedding ceremony with a staffordshire terrier called Katar, to promote the law of animal protection Photograph: Elmer Martinez/AFP

Paris, France: A couple kiss on the Pont des Arts Photograph: Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images

Manila, Philippines: Students from an elementary school hold up paper hearts to welcome sailors from USS Blue Ridge and the Philippine navy who will paint and repair classrooms at their school Photograph: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images

New York, USA: Newlyweds Air Force Captain John Wu and Stephanie Hull - both from Louisville, Kentucky - kiss as they pose for photographers after being married on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building Photograph: Tina Fineberg/AP

Prachinburi province, Thailand: A couple swing out on rappelling ropes during their wedding ceremony. The mountainside ceremony has become a favourite of adventure-seeking Thai couples getting married on Valentine's Day Photograph: Wason Wanichakorn/AP

Tel Aviv, Israel: A boy rides a skate board as a gap in the clouds appears to form a heart shape over the Mediterranean sea on Valentines Day Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP