China's Marriage Market: Where Parents Of Unmarried Adults Share Info About Their Children
When you're literally on the market.
By Tamara Jayne — 31 May 2024, 12:16 PM
Tired of swiping left? In China, parents are skipping the apps and swiping right in real life, setting their kids up face-to-face!
China's marriage market is a unique phenomenon where hundreds of parents gather in major cities and parks to display information about their unmarried children on posters pasted on umbrellas and signs, hoping to find them a spouse.
The information typically includes age, education, and career, among other characteristics.
One of the more popular marriage markets takes place at Shanghai's People's Park on weekends
Content creator @rimmazakirova, who frequently shares interesting facts about life in China, recently visited the park and shared her experience.
In her video, parents and grandparents are seen sitting on stools and benches with posters displaying information about their children, including zodiac signs, income, education background, and birthplace.
A man at Chengdu's marriage market previously told the BBC that China's large population and rapid economic development leave most locals with a narrow social circle.
He explained that these markets are a great place for parents to relax and set up their children on dates.
Meanwhile, a worried mother said she was at the marriage market because her daughter, a busy flight attendant, isn't focused on settling down. Hoping to get her daughter married quickly, she brought a poster with her child's details.
Unmarried adults, particularly women in their late 20s and beyond, can face societal pressures in China
Terms like "leftover women" are commonly used to describe unmarried women, causing anxiety for both parents and children.
In today's fast-paced world, it's also increasingly challenging for young adults to meet potential partners naturally.
The marriage market emerges as a solution to address these concerns and facilitate potential partnerships.
