Matchmaking Congress - VnExpress Life

In China, dressed in traditional attire and wearing a red flower in her hair, Ms. Wang invited a woman onto the stage to introduce herself and her ideal type of man.

"Just tell me who you like, and your godmother here will invite them onto the stage," a woman in her sixties asked a young girl at the Kaifeng scenic area in Henan province.

At the event, Ms. Wang acted as a "godmother" to the women, helping them find husbands. As soon as a woman shared her ideal partner, Ms. Wang would help them find a suitable match. Men at the event could raise their hands and interact with the woman on stage. Successful couples would exchange contact information on the spot.

If a woman can't find a suitable partner of the opposite sex, the matchmaker skillfully eases the awkwardness. When she sees a shy man, she teaches him how to express his feelings. And if the matchmaking is unsuccessful, she will give the "broken" people vouchers to buy something from the scenic area as a consolation.

"Ms. Wang" at a live matchmaking event in Kaifeng, March 28, 2024. Photo: Thinkchina

The " Mrs. Wang's Matchmaking Talk " program in the Kaifeng scenic area has become a viral phenomenon on Chinese social media. Topics related to Mrs. Wang have garnered over 6 billion views, while the number of followers on her personal account, "Mrs. Wang in Kaifeng Prefecture," skyrocketed from 230,000 on March 15th to over 6 million by early April. The venue is often packed before the event begins and lasts two hours, instead of just 10 minutes as before.

Kaifeng, the "ancient capital of eight dynasties," has once again become a popular tourist destination thanks to the fame of matchmaker Wang. Many netizens have stated that they plan to visit Kaifeng to attend Wang's event during the Qingming Festival.

Data from Tong Cheng Travel shows that searches for this scenic spot have increased by over 700% in the past week, with bookings rising by over 200% compared to the previous month. The Kaifeng authorities have also convened a special meeting to study how to capitalize on this phenomenon.

This program is modeled after the traditional matchmaking customs of ancient China, inspired by the character Wang Gan Niang who arranged the marriage between Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian in the novel Water Margin. The role of Mrs. Wang is played by Zhao Mei, 61 years old, an employee at a tourist resort in Kaifeng for 7 years, who has considerable experience in matchmaking for young people.

Zhao Mai explained that this was originally a program showcasing daily life in Kaifeng during the Song Dynasty for tourists, but she proactively added matchmaking elements. "Young people today are often under a lot of pressure and busy, so they don't have time to find a life partner. My program meets the dual requirements of modern matchmakers: it's both quick and reliable," she said.

Zhao Mai revealed that around 40-50 couples get married each year after "finding each other" at this group matchmaking program. This is indeed an impressive number compared to professional matchmaking centers in China.

An aerial view of the crowd at the "Matchmaking Talk Show" in Kaifeng, on March 30, 2024. Photo: Thinkchina

The show's appeal largely stems from the host 's eloquence and hosting skills. Zhao Mai always livens up the atmosphere with lines like, "If you don't date, you'll never meet the right person" or "There's nothing shameful about bravely expressing your love." The MC's enthusiasm and sincerity give single people the courage and confidence to step up and find love.

Netizens felt that compared to dating companies that charge tens of thousands of yuan for services, Ms. Wang's free, in-person matchmaking service was much more trustworthy and comfortable for people. They praised her for keeping the show engaging, even with strangers as participants and the need for quick thinking.

However, the show also had its share of controversies and drama. For example, a couple who had been divorced for three years took the stage, and after Ms. Wang's mediation, they hugged each other, shed tears, and decided to reconcile. This unexpected turn of events led viewers to suspect it was staged. Another man successfully matched on stage, but was actually already married, sparking accusations that the matchmaking process lacked any background checks and was not serious.

Experts feel that while Mrs. Wang's explosive popularity was partly fueled by vloggers and viewers, the fact that the show was able to attract such a large number of participants demonstrates that young people still have a need for matchmaking.

Peng Kaiping, head of the Social Sciences department at Tsinghua University, said that the popularity of "Matchmaker Wang" shows that young people still have high expectations for love and many genuinely hope to find their soulmate. His observations show that 70% of people need help from others to find their life partner.

In fact, attitudes toward matchmaking are changing. The dating and marriage website Jiayuan.com published a report in 2023 stating that over 50% of young people born after 2000 are likely to accept matchmaking to find a partner, and compared to previous generations, they begin seeking matchmaking in their 20s.

The banner on the car read: "All my dates in Yiyang, Hunan have failed, and now I'm speeding to Kaifeng. Ms. Wang, wait for me!" (Photo: Thinkchina)

The demand for "matchmaking corners" in cities is also increasing among residents, due to young people having difficulty finding partners. According to The Paper, since last year, many residents from areas such as Beijing, Urumchi in Xinjiang, Yan'an in Shaanxi, Gaoping in Shanxi, etc., have called on local authorities to establish matchmaking corners in local parks.

At the event, it wasn't just tourists on stage who had the opportunity; even those in the audience could exchange WeChat contact information. One person shared that the event was like a music festival, where people went to watch performances, make friends, or even have impromptu dates.

On the surface, the support for "Matchmaker Wang" doesn't reflect much of a desire to get married, but rather a hope of escaping the daily grind of dating and social life for young people. At the same time, the holiday mood and relaxed atmosphere at scenic spots help alleviate the obstacles of real-world dating, allowing young people to open their hearts.

"Matchmaker Wang" has broken certain stereotypes about young people's desire for relationships and marriage. However, one cannot rely on this one program to bring about change. According to many experts, less intervention and more sincerity, like Ms. Wang's, may be the catalyst for promoting dating and marriage in China.

Bao Nhien (According to Think China )

Source: https://vnexpress.net/dai-hoi-mai-moi-4732402.html