A support group called the "Divorce Club" will be launched on Valentine's Day in Shanghai, aiming to help divorcees celebrate the dissolution of their marriages, the Shanghai-based Youth Daily's Web site reported Saturday.

Around 135 "wealthy men and women" have already joined the club that will provide counseling and organize social gatherings as well as divorce celebrations, said the Web site.

"Actually, to be released from a dead marriage is a happy occasion, so we chose Valentine's Day (February 14) to launch the club," the Web site quoted the head of the club, Shu Xin, as saying.

She said the club aimed to support people already divorced or considering divorce and help those facing problems after being single again.

China's divorce rate was up 21.2 percent in 2004 with 1.6 million couples parting, according to official statistics.

(Shenzhen Daily February 13, 2006)