In China, parents are taking the lead in matchmaking for their unmarried adult children amid a marriage crisis and declining birth rates. Every Friday and Saturday, eager grandparents-to-be converge at a hilltop park in a southwestern Chinese city for “xiangqin jiao,” a traditional marriage market where they physically showcase paper résumés detailing their single offspring’s key attributes.
These résumés typically feature gender, age, height, occupation, and sometimes weight and earnings. The specificity can be surprising, with preferences ranging from physical characteristics to lifestyle habits. For instance, one woman’s profile at Chongqing’s People’s Park sought a spouse under 29 years old, shorter than 5ft8, weighing around 145lb, with a specified income and assets.
China’s historical one-child policy, initiated in 1979 to curb population growth, has led to a demographic imbalance where men outnumber women. Despite the policy’s repeal in 2015, its repercussions are still felt, influencing the dating scene. With efforts to encourage more births, the government now offers child care subsidies to address the low number of registered marriages.
Individuals like Zhang Jing, a 34-year-old sales professional, are actively participating in the market to find suitable partners, citing financial stability and homeownership as crucial criteria. Huang Weiming, a 36-year-old marketer, outlined his credentials, including his height, income, property ownership, and desired partner qualities.
While the success rate of these matchmaking markets is modest, they serve as social hubs for retirees to congregate, socialize, and discuss societal challenges. These gatherings have evolved since the early 2000s, starting in Beijing and spreading to other cities, providing a unique avenue for parental involvement in relationship pursuits.