"Markets of love": how women are looking for marriage partners in China

Many residents of modern China suffer from loneliness. This mainly concerns residents of large cities, whose relations with the outside world are often mediated by smartphone screens: communicating with friends, ordering products, paying for goods and services. This social climate is a breeding ground for a multimillion—dollar industry that exploits the fears and loneliness of women who have crossed the threshold of youth. About the markets of love in modern China — a photo story by Gonzalo Fonseca.

In China, women are often viewed as a product with a limited shelf life. The critical milestone is 24 years, the average age of marriage. A report by the Lisbon photographer Gonzalo Fonseca — about the gender peculiarities of the social climate in The Celestial Empire.

A young woman in the center of Shanghai

Girls of her age are called "Sheng Nu", literally — "remaining women". Being victims of social pressure, they are forced to use special educational services, paying for all kinds of trainings and master classes.

A woman tries on a wedding dress in a shopping mall in Beijing

There is a large gender imbalance in Chinese society that exceeds international norms: there are significantly more men than women here. According to experts, 30 million men will never find a wife, but in big cities it is women who feel the most pressure because of loneliness.

In the shopping center of Beijing

Night Shanghai: small apartments in a huge city

On weekends in Shanghai People's Park, hundreds of worried parents meet at an impromptu "Marriage Market". They hold ads in their hands, attach ads to umbrellas, exchange contact information in the hope of finding a suitable match for their children. Middle-aged single women also come here. For them, this market is the last chance to get rid of loneliness and social neglect.

The government's "one family, one child" policy has created a gender imbalance in Chinese society

How to find a guy? Classes at the "Weime Club"

The cost of one month of classes is 6,000 yuan (more than 57 thousand rubles). Men who can afford it, usually do not need help in finding a wife. Therefore, the "Weime Club" caters exclusively to women.

The ideal female body, according to Eric, the teacher of the "Weime Club", should be thin:

One of the techniques taught in the club: the girl, referring to the fact that her smartphone is dead, asks the guy to take a picture of her and send the picture over the Internet. The goal is to get as many contacts of possible partners as possible.

Diamond Love Marriage Agency in Shanghai

"Hello! I am a hunter for love!" — Judy has been saying this phrase for 8 years. She works at the Diamond Love marriage agency

Reception area at Diamond Love, specializing in finding partners for multimillionaires who do not have time for independent searches

Thanks to the "Love Hunter" method he developed, he was able to solve the problem of finding a marriage partner.

The "Love Hunter" photographs a young girl who is looking for love. After that, before getting into the company's archive, applicants must complete a six-step training program

An employee of the call center in "Diamond Love"

The "love hunter" gets the data of a young girl in Shanghai

By Western standards, this girl is still young, and by local standards, she has already crossed the age limit, ideal for marriage.

"Marriage Market" in Shanghai People's Park

On weekends in Shanghai People's Park, hundreds of parents meet at the "Marriage Market" in the hope of finding a suitable couple for their children.

During the working week, it is difficult for Flora to choose a time for communication.

Flora returns home after spending 6 hours at the "Marriage Market"