In China, parents are taking the reins in finding spouses for their single adult children as the country grapples with a declining marriage rate and low birth rates. On weekends, eager grandparents flock to a hilltop park in a southwestern city for “xiangqin jiao,” a real-life dating market where they showcase paper resumes of their offspring.
These profiles typically feature basic details like gender, age, height, and occupation, but some also include controversial information such as weight and income. For instance, one woman at the marriage market in Chongqing specified that her ideal husband should be under 29 years old, shorter than 5ft8, weigh around 145lb, and have no bad habits. She disclosed her monthly salary and assets in her listing.
The historical impact of China’s former one-child policy is evident, with men now outnumbering women due to gender preference and better resources allocated to single daughters. To counteract the declining birth rates, the government is now offering child care subsidies to encourage more couples to have children.
Participants like Zhang Jing, a 34-year-old sales professional, attend these markets personally to find suitable partners, citing challenges such as financial stability and homeownership as key criteria. On the male side, individuals like Huang Weiming, a 36-year-old marketing professional, are also present, sharing their attributes and requirements in hopes of finding a compatible match.
Despite the limited success stories, the marriage markets have become a social gathering spot for retirees to socialize and discuss the evolving dynamics of modern relationships. These self-organized markets, which first emerged in Beijing in the early 2000s, have since spread to various cities across China, attracting participants with laminated placards in search of love.
Overall, the marriage markets in China serve as a unique cultural phenomenon, reflecting societal norms, generational aspirations, and the evolving landscape of relationships in the country.