Marriage Brokerage in China: Can Love Be Bought?

Chinese singletons laugh at a matchmaking party in Shanghai

This is a very tricky question. But in China, the answer may be “Yes”. It certainly isn’t in the movies and books you’ve read. In today’s China, many people are desperate for love and would like to build a happy relationship, with the help of the Marriage Brokers. People chose to turn to them not because they would love to marry someone for money. But they do want to attain romantic love and build a happy relationship. That’s why matchmakers have existed in China for many centuries.

Marriage Brokers is a Big Industry
It is very difficult to track the size of the marriage brokerage business in China, given that the business exists in many different forms. Many big names marriage brokers call themselves “Matchmaker” or “Matrimonial Consultancy”. Usually they are registered and are regulated. Traditional matchmaking services are provided to clients, including wedding arrangement, visa solutions, etc. However, there are some other smaller forms of marriage brokerages which exist as “Translation Consultancy” or “Information Services” business. Business is usually based on the matchmaking services rather than translation services. According to the data released by the Committee of Matchmaking Service Industries, China Association of Social Workers, the country has more than 20,000 traditional matchmaking companies which consist of total 200,000 workforces. There are around 6,000 Internet-based matchmaking agencies in the world. However, it is not always easy to know the exact size of the industry because many matchmaking companies exist in illegal forms as well.

Usually women older than 30 hires marriage brokers

What services do they provide?
Traditionally speaking, marriage brokers will provide services such as matchmaking, personal meeting, etc. While in today’s society, matchmakers provide various services such as party, travel, visa solutions, etc. In recent years, Internet based marriage brokers play a larger role, and many of them even cooperate with local TV stations to provide dating or matchmaking functions as well. One of the most well-known phenomenon of the matchmaking needs can be told by the Chinese TV show “If You Are the One", one of many popular matchmaking shows on which young people seek mates amid ribald jokes from the host and occasional racy comments from guests.

Who hires the Marriage Brokers?
No doubt the economy of China is developing very quickly especially in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Modern Speed Dating has taken off, as boosted by its portrayal in shows such as Sex and the City as something that glamorous people did. The matchmakers in China follow suit as well in order to cater to the busy people. Since traditionally speaking, Chinese people see marriage as their most important goal in life. No matter how they live their lives, they still want to get married no matter what.
Usually, those who hire the matchmaking agencies include:

- Women who are older than 30 years old
In general, it is not easy to get married after you’re 30. But in recent years, women are enjoying a higher social status in Chinese society. In Beijing, you won’t find difficult to meet a career woman who is still single in their late 20s or 30s.

- Women who are divorced or widowed
Honestly speaking, China is still a society dominated by male. If a woman is divorced or widowed, it may not be easy for her to find a new lifetime partner.

How much are they willing to pay?
Depends, as services provided by the brokers vary. According to industry’s news, many who bet their luck on the brokers are willing to pay as high as USD 10000 to the brokers. That’s why many brokers in China are desperately looking for clients who wish to get married. And many marketing efforts are put into practice to help them get love.

Quality of Service

Really depends. Some provide premium one-stop-shop dating services including finding potential mates, dating, dating coaching, relationship consultation, language learning, visa solution, wedding planning, etc.

While some small operated business may not provide quality services. As it is considered as a traditional business, news or objective opinions about the quality service are usually given personally by others who did use the service itself.

The New Anti Romance Scam Project

And some are very concerned about the online dating fraud rumors spread on the Internet. But many of these negative messages come from the misunderstanding between two cultures and the services of our site. So that’s why we’ve launched a new anti-scam website to help the public understand more about the issues.

Visit Chnlovescam.com for detailed measures adopted by Chlove.com, common scam scenarios, latest matchmaking industry news, misconceptions about the international dating service and other information that are sure to pique your interest. Check out the educational resources to expand your knowledge about dating in China. Support and explore Chnlove Anti-Scam project now. Then, come back and tell us what you think!

Chinese beauty series - Muslim Chinese - Hui Girls

Beautiful Chinese Muslim Girl

Probably everyone sees Chinese as Buddhist and ignore the existence of Muslim in the ethnic Chinese people. In fact, Islam in China has a very rich heritage and they live in different corners in the country. Officially speaking, the Muslim Chinese is referred as “Hui people” in the Chinese ethnicity classification system. In here we refer “Hui” people as ethnically Chinese but believe in Muslim. Unlike other Muslim ethnic groups in China, Hui people predominately speak Mandarin.

Culture
Judged by the facial features, most Hui are no different from the Han Chinese. And Hui are similar in culture to Han Chinese as well. But you can tell a little bit by their mode of dress. Like most cases in Islamic cultures, most Hui men wear white caps and women wear veils. They also practice Islamic dietary laws so they won’t eat pork nor drink alcohol. In contemporary Chinese society, Hui people still practice their own religion and stick to the Islamic tradition very well.
Since China is a very multi-national country, many Hui people have assimilated into the local Han Chinese culture already.


Language

Hui Girl in traditional costume

It depends on where the Hui people are. If they are ethnically Chinese, they speak Mandarin. For the Hui people living near Xinjiang or Mongolia, they may be mixed with Mongols or other ethnic groups. Of course, most of them are able to speak Mandarin, Uygur and other Turkic languages such as Kazak may be common.

Dating Scene
Still very traditional, especially in areas where Muslims are a majority. It is not common to see intermarriage between Han and Hui. Even if there is such case, religious conversion may take place. However, as China is becoming more modern, dating scene in China has been less restricted among Muslim women. Under Chinese law, it is fine for a non-Muslim to marry a Muslim.

Dating Advice
Chinese Muslim society is at heart conservative and the influence of Islam remains a strong presence in the Hui community. Relationship between foreigners and Hui people is not too common but you may have better luck if you live in Muslim regions such as Xinjiang. Dating a Muslim doesn’t mean you date one person – you date a whole family.
Rule of thumb in the relationship: Respect. It doesn’t matter what languages you speak. Mutual respect is the key to a successful relationship. After all, it is just the faith and living habit which may be different.

Hui Girls
Generally speaking, Hui girls are considered to be more beautiful than the Han Chinese. Some Hui women are with mixed Central Asian and European origins and they become synonymous with exotic glamour. It definitely enhances attractiveness in Asia where more individuals of mixed descent achieve fame in the regional media world. Besides, Hui women are considered mysterious in many people’s eyes. They have something extra special in that they embody an exoticness because of their delicate Asian features: almond shaped eyes and tan skin, with special traditional dress they wear and special custom they believe in. That makes Hui girls very stunning.

To seek a perfect Chinese muslim match, you are suggested to go to Chnlove.com and do your own search. Search the religion “Other” or in some regions like “Ningxia”, “Xinjiang”, “Gangsu” and “Inner Mongolia”. You’ll be amazed to find out some stunning Hui women.