Chengdu's marriage market
If you wander through People’s Park in Chengdu, Sichuan, you’ll come across a small crowd of greying heads with laminated sheets of paper laid out on either side of the path.
These middle-aged locals have come to find partners. In most cases, it’s not for themselves, but for their unmarried children. Chengdu isn’t an exception, similar markets exist in many cities around China, and there’s a Wikipedia page about the Shanghai market if you’re interested. Here is a sample of what was on offer when I visited Chengdu.
Seeking fate
Unmarried woman, born in ‘78, 160cm tall, slim build, delicate and pretty appearance, Southwest University of Finance and Economics Master’s, accountant, tax agent, certified public accountant, regional certified public accountant association member, State-Owned Enterprise employee, mid-level cadre, independent-living woman, parents both retired, no bad habits.
Seeks unmarried man of suitable age, about 170cm tall, Bachelor’s or above, in good circumstances, no bad habits.
Head of household [i.e. parents’] phone number…
Unmarried woman
Born in ‘81, 1.62m tall, Bachelor’s degree, has home, car, lives in Dongmen, public hiring cadre, white skin and pretty, I am honest and easygoing, parents both retired, independent woman.
Seeking someone born in ‘71-‘82, about 1.70m tall or taller, undergraduate education or above, of good character.
Head of household’s phone number…
Man:
Born November ‘68, 1.65m, high school education. Working in a business in this city. Regular features, open-minded, no bad habits.
Seeks woman:
Born in about ‘73. Dignified features, of good character, kindhearted, in good health. All else to be discussed face-to-face.
(Mianyang District people not included)
Phone…
Seeking marriage
Man, born in December ‘86, 1.7m, professional diploma. Working in a financial firm in this city. Regular features, handsome. Honest, sincere and pragmatic, has a sense of family responsibility, an desire to improve, no smoking or drinking habits, speaks the truth, has a sense of fairness, likes reading, thinking, travelling. Has a mortgage.
Divorced, not living with children. Parents both have retirement insurance. Hope to take parents and children travelling.
Seeks woman, born in ‘83-‘89, 1.60m and above, diploma or above. Dignified features, of good character, of fine appearance and temperament, full-figured. Working in this city. Divorced, not living with children. (Unmarried women must be over 25 years of age). All else to be discussed face-to-face.
Phone…
Seeking fate
Woman, unmarried, born in August ‘82, height 1.65m, Bachelor’s degree, Party member. Healthy, slim figure, good temperament. Broad range of interests and hobbies, currently teaching at a primary school in this city (public institution), good household conditions (car, house)
Seeks: height 1.75m or above, born from ‘74 to ‘82, responsible, well-cultivated man in suitable circumstances, interested parties please speak to head of household (head of household is present [in the park]).