A birth approval certificate for a second child is shown by a pregnant woman in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, in April 2014. [Xu Yuanchang/China Daily]

A couple in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, was thrilled to drag through the last day of 2015 so that their baby would be born in the new year, saving them a stiff fine of 500,000 yuan ($76,700) under China's previous one-child policy, Qianjiang Evening News reports.

A Hangzhou woman surnamed Xu, whose baby was originally expected on Dec 26, 2015 remained motionless for five days to delay delivery and finally gave birth to a baby girl on Jan 2, 2016.

Chinese lawmakers have formally approved ending the controversial one-child policy, but parents of a second child born before New Year's Day were still subject to the longstanding policy as the one-child policy was still in effect.