The policy allowing all couples to have a second child is expected to raise Beijing’s population by580,000 between 2017 and 2021, local authorities estimated.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said the policy took effect on Jan 1.All born children born before Dec 31 are still subject to the former family planning policy, which limited most Chinese couples to one child.

Beijing is estimated to have 2.36 million more mothers who are eligible for a second child under the new policy.

Also, from Jan 1 on, newly married couples will not get additional marriage holidays as all have been deprived of the privilege for late marriage. That policy gave extra days off for couples where the husband was older than 25 and the wife 23, as a way to encourage people to reduce reproduction.