Looking for someone to hang out with: Parents hang their children’s details on a clothesline in an effort to find them a mate
Looking for someone to hang out with: Parents hang their children’s details on a clothesline in an effort to find them a mate
Singletons in China are hung to dry by their matchmaking parents, who advertise details about them on a clothesline in an attempt to marry them off.
The bizarre dating ritual takes place in People’s Park in Shanghai, where parents collect information about their adult sons and daughters in the hope of finding them a suitable life partner.
The ads include details such as their child’s age, height, education, occupation, and income.
Good on paper: Parents in Shanghai create laminated ads to promote their sons and daughters to potential mates
Young Women’s Stories: Parents looking for the daughter-in-law of their dreams find a selection of potential husbands on display
With some advertisements on small packs, it seems that some parents find it difficult to keep their child’s qualities on just one A4 page
The typical requirement of a groom-to-be is that he be a “responsible man with a stable income” or someone “who owns an apartment and a car.”
Women, meanwhile, must be “friendly, have a steady job and preferably have a bachelor’s degree.”
The eager parents then scan the dating ads and chat with other parents in an attempt to match their son or daughter with a potential mate.
Something for the weekend? The matchmaking parents meet on Saturdays and Sundays to research the town’s singletons
High Expectations: The advertisers generally want wives who are “friendly, have a stable job and preferably have a bachelor’s degree”
When it comes to spouses, the ideal candidate is a “responsible man with a stable income” or someone “who owns an apartment and a car”
Narrowing the options: Keen moms and dads think they can help their child find a life partner by chatting with like-minded parents
Essential stats: The ads include thoughtful details like son or daughter’s height, job… and salary
A parent, Ma Jianhua, 55, who was trying to find a wife for his son told China Daily: ‘I first came here six months ago after reading about the park’s matchmaking activities in the newspaper.
‘Since then I’ve been coming here almost every weekend. On days when I am unable to attend, my wife fills in for me.
“My son is too busy to date girls, so I’m here on his behalf.
“While my son and I have different tastes, I can at least find some girls that fit his requirements by talking to the girl’s parents. After all, the manner and character of a woman are often influenced by their parents.‘
Love letters: the parents don’t have much to do, but as one dad put it, ‘it’s a good platform’
Well, it’s cheaper than a personal ad: the park’s green spaces provide a healthy environment for partner hunting
Ma said his 28-year-old son was looking for a caring girl between the ages of 24 and 26, with a bachelor’s degree.
He has had no luck so far because although he has introduced his son to several girls, none have made it.
He said, ‘I will not give up, as a father I will not feel comfortable doing nothing for my son.
“I know very well that there are all kinds of people here, but it is a good platform. Nowhere else in the city will you find so many candidates.
“Besides, I believe that matchmaking works. Some of the parents I used to see are gone. I think they must have found someone.’
Fierce competition: The number of singletons may be high, but for these parents that is an advantage
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