A woman looks for a suitable candidate for her unattached child at a matchmaking activity in Dongguan, Guangdong province.(Photo by AN DONG/CHINA DAILY)
At the park, umbrellas were placed in rows, each adorned with A4 sheets of paper covered with handwritten information about the unmarried children.
Unattached males usually provide details of their income and property status, while women are generally interested in a man's appearance and whether he has a stable job. No photos are exchanged unless someone expresses a serious interest.
Compassion and a gentle nature are the top requirement for Chinese men when looking for a girlfriend, while integrity and a strong sense of responsibility are what women expect most from their other half, according to a recent survey conducted by Yangcheng Evening News in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, which polled nearly 1,000 people in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Straight to the point
At the park corner, people get straight to the point.
Wu Tianli (not her real name) was one of many parents of unmarried daughters who believed that "owning an independent apartment for marriage" was the top attribute for a prospective son-in-law.
"Needless to say, the man must own an apartment, either through his own efforts or with his parents' assistance. If not, his family doesn't lay enough importance on the son's wedding and my daughter won't receive the respect due to her," Wu said.
She was looking for a partner for her 33-year-old daughter, who works for a Fortune 500 company and earns more than 20,000 yuan ($3,000) a month－almost three times higher than the median income in Shanghai.
"She enjoys her single life and is a fervent traveler. She said she doesn't want to share her money with someone with a lower income because it would affect her quality of life," Wu said.
