In Shanghai it's good to know that there is a market catered to all of your needs, wants, and uttermost desires. From fruits and veggies, to fake bags and shoes, bedding, fish, crickets, fabric, electronics, and even nuts and bolts... Shanghai has it all.
On a regular weekday you can get a custom sequin dress made for you in the fabric market, and then take a 3 dollar taxi to buy a Gucci clutch in another market, of course you can grab some chicken in another market for that supper you'll be making for the blind date your grandpa hooked you up with in the Marriage market. Oh yeah, you heard me...Marriage Market. Like I said there is a market for absolutely anything your little heart desires.
The average young Chinese person works 6 days a week. And if they aren't living at home with mom and dad, they're living in unisex residences. If you think it's hard to find a hot date back home, just imagine yourself working 60 hours a week and only having one day off a week. Oh yeah, and you share a room with 4 other people.
In China, the average girl is expected to marry in her early 20's and the men before their late 20's or early 30's. Also consider this one: It's frowned upon to date during high school and even sometimes, during university as well; mom and dad's only hope to a good retirement is that one kid and you pretty much have to pull straight A's to get that prime job after school. And you're also competing against a billion people. So when are you supposed to find this dreamboat you say? What to do?
Well, don't worry about it: Mom and Dad know just where to go! In comes the Spouse Market in People Square:
Every Saturday and Sunday, Mothers, Fathers, and even Grandparents post up little advertisements of their kids and then wait for a bite. These posters include the all important details: Sex, Age, Height, Schooling information, job description, and of course, salary. If one mother is interested in another’s daughter they’ll sit, discuss, and arrange a blind date. All the kids need to do now is meet up and see if they are each other’s eternal loves.
Call it strange, or materialistic, or even depressing. I call it amusing, if not even romantic. In a world where material possession is all that matters, at least some people are out there with their hearts on their sleeves and hoping for a little bit of love. Who says romance is dead when you’ve got mom and dad as cupid!
Check out the link I added at the top. Great information there as well as fantastic photos.
"Female, 30 years old, 162cm tall, works at FedEx and makes 11,000rmb a year, has her MBA and is looking for a man between 29 and 35 years old."
The waiting game.
Parents also pay agents to take care of it all.
Love! xx
