bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Yating Yang

The experience of a 25-year-old Spanish influencer when she visited a famous matchmaking spot in China has sparked heated online debate both on the mainland and overseas.
The influencer, who is known by her Chinese name Kejia, moved to China in 2019 to work at a language school and quickly developed a deep interest in Chinese culture.
During a recent visit to Shanghai, Kejia recorded what happened when she went to a renowned matchmaking corner in Shanghai’s People’s Park.
She shared the video on her TikTok account, which at the time of writing, had amassed more than 128,000 international followers.
In the video, Kejia and her friends walk through the park with “resumes” written on A4 paper which outline personal information and potential matches.
This led many Chinese parents to approach them, eagerly introducing their children.

One “resume” described a woman “born in 1994, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, stands 1.72 metres tall, earns an annual salary of 200,000 yuan (US$28,000), and has a passion for musical instruments, notably having learned guzheng for over a year and a half.”
She was seeking a partner “born between 1993 and 1995, who stands taller than 1.72 metres, has a decent appearance, holds at least a Bachelor’s degree, and either owns property in Shanghai or is willing to jointly purchase a flat.”
While Kejia initially viewed the event as playful, joking with onlookers that she was there to “find a husband”, she quickly realised that matchmaking is a serious business in China.
“Many parents introduced their sons to me, detailing their preferences, properties, and occupations,” Kejia told reporters from the Zhejiang Daily Press Group.
She likened her experience to being in a supermarket, where parents displayed their “products”, or children, to prospective “buyers”.
A 50-year-old man proposed to her on-site, telling her he had a two million yuan fortune (US$280,000) and asking if that fulfilled her criteria.
Astonished at this approach, Kejia said: “I’m 25 and he’s 50 something. He’s old enough to be my father.”
Her video quickly captured the attention of TikTok users and rapidly amassed more than 3.5 million views, 300,000 likes, and more than 3,100 comments in just one day.
One intrigued international observer said: “If I can’t find someone in the end, I might consider going to China to give it a try.”
“I’m going to go to the local park and make myself a poster. What else can I do?” Said another.
However, online observers on the mainland saw things differently.
One person said: “Why do I feel like these people aren’t seeking marriage but rather selling vegetables?”

The 50-year-old’s proposal faced a particular backlash on mainland social media.
One person referred to a common Chinese expression and said: “Why do old cows always want to eat tender grass?”
“With just two million yuan, he wants to ‘eat’ tender foreign grass who is young enough to be his daughter. That amount of money isn’t even enough to buy two flats,” said another critic.


China ‘crying wedding’ custom sees women singing farewell laments for life they leave behind

‘Caring’ Taiwan KOL mother of 5 accused of beating and killing toddler under her care

China mother sits children on 23rd-floor outdoor air con unit to annoy husband during row

China child kidnap victim says mother’s voice in dreams helped her remember who she was

Trending in China

‘Eating tender grass’: Spanish influencer, 25, gets taste of China matchmaking culture with marriage proposal from man, 50, in Shanghai park

A Spanish influencer in China has prompted a huge online reaction, both on the mainland and overseas, after she posted a video on social media of her experience at a famous matchmaking venue in Shanghai. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Spanish influencer, Kejia wandered through the park in Shanghai with a sign giving information about herself and the sort of partner she was looking for. Photo: Weibo

Kejia, 25, said she was astonished to receive an on-the-spot proposal of marriage from a man twice her age. Photo: Weibo

Strange strawberry-sucking craze: why young women in China are obsessed with fruity fad and who started it

A strange new craze in which youngsters slowly suck the flesh off strawberries then float what is left in a glass of water is sweeping mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Xiaohongshu

Some people on social media say they find the fruit-sucking process strangely satisfying. Photo: Shutterstock

China is the world’s biggest producer of strawberries and makes up 37 per cent of the world’s total output of the fruit. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s famous ‘Harvard girl’ now finance professional with affluent US lifestyle, ignites debate about definition of success

China’s famous “Harvard girl”, Liu Yiting, who became a poster girl for strict parenting on the mainland after she gained a full scholarship to the top US university 25 years ago.
Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu

Liu Yiting rose to national prominence in 1999 when she won a scholarship to the prestigious Harvard University. Photo: Liu Yiting

Some people on mainland social media say Liu’s choice of lifestyle after leaving Harvard University is below what was expected of her. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Vulgar and disrespectful’: China theatre faces backlash over sexist promotions for famous Russian musical performance

A theatre in China has faced a barrage of criticism over the “vulgar and disrespectful” promotional material it has used to advertise a musical remake of the classic Russian novel, Anna Karenina. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Promotional material for the performance has been criticised for focusing too heavily on “beautiful men and women”. Photo: Weibo

Stung by the controversy, the venue has removed the offending passages from its official social media accounts. Photo: Weibo

‘Support my mum’: China boy posts cute note in mother’s ride-hail car asking ‘handsome, beautiful’ passengers to give good reviews

A little boy in China who stuck a note in his mother’s ride-hailing car asking passengers to support her business has delighted many on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/The Paper

The boy wrote the note after discovering just how hard his mother worked every day. Photo: The Paper 

The youngster’s handwritten message welcomes passengers into the cab before asking them to support his mother‘s work. Photo: The Paper

Abusive China tour guide insults, threatens woman who refuses to buy expensive sightseeing package

An aggressive and abusive tour guide in China has been suspended after he launched an expletive-laden rant on a woman who did not want to pay for extra activities. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Wiki


The verbally abused woman insisted that the tour company had told her that the Harbin package was all-inclusive. Photo: Shutterstock

The male tour guide became abusive when the tourist refused to buy costly additions to her original package. Photo: Shutterstock 

News

People & Culture

Gender & Diversity

Young woman starts out having fun, is quickly astonished at approaches
Foreign, domestic online reactions to Shanghai park spectacle differ wildly


A Spanish influencer has attracted a huge online response, both inside and outside of China, after she posted a video of her matchmaking experience in a spot famous for the practice in a Shanghai park.


China society

Foreigners in China

‘Eating tender grass’: Spanish influencer, 25, gets taste of China matchmaking culture with marriage proposal from man, 50, in Shanghai park

Young woman starts out having fun, is quickly astonished at approaches Foreign, domestic online reactions to Shanghai park spectacle differ wildly

Young woman starts out having fun, is quickly astonished at approaches

Foreign, domestic online reactions to Shanghai park spectacle differ wildly