Valentine's Day preparations get under way across the world

Wenzhou, Zhejiang province: Chinese paramilitary recruits stand in a heart formation on a basketball court Photograph: AP

Hong Kong: Traditional Chinese Spring Lantern Festival decorations. The festival marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations and is referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day because lantern markets were a favourite meeting place for young couples Photograph: Vincent Yu/AP

Ji'nan, China: A bottle of wine labelled with a photo of a couple Photograph: Cui Jian/AP

Fujisawa, Japan: An ox called Heart, due to the marking on his forehead, has drawn attention from around the country Photograph: Junko Kimura/Getty Images

Hong Kong: A couple takes part in a wife-carrying competition Photograph: YM YIK/EPA

Rafah, Gaza Strip: A Palestinian farmer working in a flower farm collects red carnations, which will be exported to the Netherlands – a rare exception to the blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007 Photograph: Said Khatib/AFP

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Chinese girls throw mandarins into a lake during the Chap Goh Mei festival – also known as Chinese Valentine's Day. Young maidens believed that, by throwing mandarins into water, they would find a good husband Photograph: Lai Seng Sin/AP

London Zoo: Roxy the rockhopper penguin stands next to a postbox as she prepares for an influx of Valentines Day cards. Despite being the most adopted animal at London Zoo and the owner of 431 friends on MySpace, Roxy still has no mate Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Kiev, Ukraine: A couple walk along the Bridge of Love, which is traditionally decorated with Valentine symbols left by lovers Photograph: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Engaged couple Deidre Moran, from Co Mayo, and Stephen Long, from Co Meath, hold hands in Whitefriar Carmelite Church in Dublin, where Father David Weakliam hosted a blessing of the rings ceremony Photograph: Julien Behal/PA

Nablus, Isreal: A Palestinian woman hangs lingerie outside a shop Photograph: NASSER ISHTAYEH/AP

Wenzhou, Zhejiang province: Paramilitary recruits make heart signs. Western customs are increasingly influencing Chinese culture, with Valentine's Day now hugely popular in China Photograph: China Daily/Reuters

Dunstable, Bedfordshire: Scarlet macaws Inca and George give each other a peck on the beak and a rose for Valentine's Day at Whipsnade Zoo. Macaws mate for life Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Old Brompton Road, London: A worker at Only Roses prepares a bouquet from roses shipped in from Ecuador Photograph: Katie Collins/PA

Manila Bay, Philippines: Three staff in scuba gear pose as Cupid and a couple inside an aquarium at a marine theme park Photograph: Jay Directo/AFP

New Delhi, India: Activists of the right-wing Hindu party Shiv Sena burn cards in an anti-Valentine's Day protest. They believe it is a cultural invasion on the Hindu way of life Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire: A pair of mute swans at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust begin their elaborate courtship display by making a heart shape with their necks Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA