Holding three house deeds, "Looking for a wealthy handsome man"... China public matchmaking scene

China Henan Province's 'Public Matchmaking' Gains Nationwide Popularity
Focus on Appearance and Wealth Raises Concerns
Cash Incentives Offered Amid Declining Marriage Rates

"I want a handsome person. And I want someone wealthy." The 'public matchmaking' event, where participants state conditions such as appearance or wealth and find partners on the spot at a Chinese tourist site, is gaining attention. On the 5th, SBS reported, "A public matchmaking event was held in the heart of Henan Province, a famous tourist destination in China." Participants state their ideal type, the audience raises their hands, and among them, a partner matching the ideal type is chosen for an instant blind date.

A participant pulling out a house deed during the public matchmaking.
[Image source=SBS news screen capture]

A female participant showed three house ownership certificates when told she was "a bit old." Another woman surprised the host and audience by saying she wanted a man earning 25,000 yuan (about 4.7 million KRW) per month, more than four times the average monthly salary of a Chinese university graduate.

Originally, this event was organized to promote local tourist sites, but as thousands of people flocked to participate and had to wait two nights and three days to enter due to its soaring popularity, it was expanded into a nationwide tour. Chinese state media emphasize the 'marriage encouragement' effect, but side effects are also being discussed because participants only present conditions like appearance or wealth in a short time.

Criticism has also arisen that it encourages the ‘Chaili’ custom (a type of cash bride price sent from the groom to the bride at marriage), which has deteriorated into a bad practice by demanding excessive amounts. In China, Chaili is known to reach tens of millions of won depending on the region, and the host of this event even said, "Chaili in Henan Province is 388,000 yuan (about 73 million KRW)."

Netizens who saw this expressed negative reactions such as, "It's bitter. The level is low and too blatant," "It seems similar to our country's situation these days," and "It looks like a human auction market."

China’s Married Couples Decline for 9 Years... Active Village Measures

This kind of event reflects China’s low marriage rate. As of the end of 2022, the number of married couples in China was 6.835 million pairs, dropping more than 10% compared to the previous year, continuing a decline for nine consecutive years. With the economic slowdown causing soaring unemployment, young people are avoiding not only marriage but even dating, leading to a decrease in the marriage rate.

In response, many villages in China are offering rewards to increase the marriage rate. In January, a village in Guangdong Province decided to pay 600 yuan (about 110,000 KRW) to matchmakers who introduce unmarried young people to spouses and successfully register their marriage. In November last year, a village in Shanxi Province also attracted attention by deciding to pay 1,000 yuan (about 186,000 KRW) to matchmakers who introduced young people to spouses and led to marriage.