Divorce is hard. Dating after divorce might be harder. I recently saw in an article on CNN, that “hitting the market”, in Shanghai could be taken literally.
Each weekend, in a park in Shanghai, family members of singles, determined to find their relative a mate, strike out to the marriage market. They are joined by professional matchmakers, who try to make a living from the unusual gathering.
With young Chinese told to put education and work before finding love, many struggle to find boyfriends or girlfriends, a source of deep concern for their parents in a society which emphasizes the survival of the family line.
The market has been around since 2004. With almost three times as many women looking for partners than men, it can be difficult to make a successful match, according to a matchmaker at the event.
Men can register for free, while women are typically charged a fee of $500. There is also an age limit for women; they must be under 33. Men born after 1970 can sign up, however.
There is reportedly a “shortage of superior men.”
The city even organizes an “annual love and marriage expo” to help young people find love that attracts 18,000.
