Women vie for billionaire bachelors  

富豪征婚引南宁海选吸引众多报名者

A woman is signing up for a public audition Sunday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (CNS Photo)

(ECNS) — Seeking wealthy husbands, a number of women signed up for a public audition Sunday in Nanning city, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The audition was part of a matchmaking program for wealthy single entrepreneurs organized by a matrimonial agency.

According to the agency, over 1,500 women at an average age of 28 signed up for the audition, all hoping to be selected for a party in July that some 50 billionaires are expected to attend.

Many applicants, some accompanied by their parents, said they were mostly attracted by the experience and maturity of the single entrepreneurs.

The applicants underwent a series of interviews that covered mental acuity and self-image, as well as ideas about marriage.

One candidate surnamed Huang said she preferred mature men as "they are more considerate."

Another applicant from a well-to-do family said: "Men with rich life experiences possess qualities that I most desire. All the hardships he has gone through to attain success, including how he conducts himself and his philosophy about life…all things I have been looking for in an ideal partner."

Auditions for female guests to the party have already been held in Nanning, Shanghai, Jinan, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

"It is precisely because of the huge demand of our clients that this event has been successfully held for two consecutive years," said Cheng Yongsheng, the head of the agency, in response to criticism of the audition's media hype.

Applicants who pass the next round of interviews will go through a number of procedures, including background checks and health examinations.