How pollution affects dating in China

Gray days may increase one's desire to find a partner, but it may also increase the risk for rejection. Photo: Li Hao/GT

With air pollution in central and eastern China confining city dwellers to gloomy indoor activities, China's lonely hearts have been seeking out feasible and effective ways to sustain a romance in the haze.

It's not uncommon to see online posts like that of Net user Yixixi&Wulala who asked his friends in the Arsenal Football Club on Baidu Tieba, an online community for users who share the same hobbies, whether he should ask a girl on date despite the fact it was heavily polluted outside.

"After putting in a lot of effort, I finally got the chance to go to the movies with my 'goddess.' But the air is seriously polluted today. Should I reschedule the date for health concerns?" Yixixi&Wulala posted.

Answers were mixed. Net user Silkmelon asked, "Are you afraid of being unable to clearly see her face?" while Createjacky suggested, "Don't hesitate…book a room at a hotel."

Extreme weather can be a catalyst for feeling loneliness, amplifying the desire to seek out a partner, according to Luo Haibing, a relationship counselor and writer.

This theory was tested when, according to ABC News, the blizzard that stroked the Northeast in the US last week actually corresponded with a surge in the use of dating websites and apps as some singles turned to sites for a snow day romance.

Dating sites, including match.com, OK Cupid and zoosk.com, reported a spike in traffic in the storm, according to ABC News.

"For the blizzard states we're seeing an increase of over 60 percent of e-mail initiations between Match members," a match.com spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Some in New York even posted "want ads" on Craigslist "seeking snow day make-out buddy," ABC News reported.

Relationship expert Logan Levkoff said in the ABC News report that "winters may be tough on singles because people can feel lonely during cold bleak times. A blizzard, especially one that traps you indoors, may motivate singles to seek connection."

Dating websites in China could not be reached by Metropolitan for figures regarding the traffic in foggy days, but Luo speculated more people would interact online or use apps while staying at home, saying "it is a natural phenomenon in the digital era."

In 2014, a total of 45 seriously polluted days (PM 2.5 was above 300), were recorded, indicating one polluted day every eight days, according to figures released by the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

Those looking for true love might want to think twice on China's especially gray days. A study in France suggests that asking someone out on a overcast day may lead to higher possibility of failure, according to a Weibo post by matching website jiayuan.com.

In the study, five men were chosen to start a conversation with random women on the street. In their 241 encounters on sunny days, the portion of successful ones (where they got the woman's phone number) was 22.4 percent. On hazy days, the success rate was 13.9 percent. "Serotonin in brain increases when a person is in sunshine, making people feel relaxed and joyful," the post said.

But Luo said lonely singles should not be held back by bad weather.

He said women may not feel happy if the dating environment doesn't meet their expectations for a "perfect love experience," but men can view air pollution as an opportunity to win the woman's heart by being romantic through making considerate arrangements.

"You can set the date at a cozy café, restaurant or theater near the woman's home, or drive to pick her up to reduce the unpleasant experience of traveling in smog," Luo said. "When chatting, focus on sharing pleasant moments in life, such as travels to the seaside and playing under blue skies, to inspire perfect imagery for her."