The Shanghai Marriage Market: A Fascinating Experience

The Shanghai marriage market is such an eye-opening insight into Chinese culture. Honestly, it’s one of the most fascinating (and unexpected) things you can experience on your trip to Shanghai.

Essentially, this is where hoards of desperate parents of unmarried adult children congregate, holding laminated signs filled with key personal information about their children. 

This includes their age, height, weight, profession, salary and WeChat ID – it is not limited to just that information though. There are also particular requirements for the potential spouse, such as a minimum annual income, minimum education level and specific physical features. 

Some signs even go so far as to specify a preferred nationality for their future in-law. One in particular we came across stated; Australian only.

Now, I didn’t meet a single Australian during my time in Shanghai – so finding one who also ticks all the boxes of being tall, well-paid, single and fluent in Mandarin? That might be optimistic, to say the least.

It would appear that the parents in Shanghai are not reserved about what they can offer and what they hope to receive in return.

One might assume the Shanghai marriage market is a hidden local secret, but it is very much public knowledge and the park is heaving full of people. Chinese people even travel from other cities just to attend, in the hopes of finding somebody for their children.

Many parents stay posted at their ‘stations’ in the park, and others wander around, essentially ‘shopping’ for the perfect son or daughter-in-law. If they find a potential match, they’ll swap contact details (often without the children knowing) and arrange a date on behalf of them.

Naturally, I had to check the Shanghai marriage market out, purely out of sheer fascination. While walking around and (clearly not as discreetly as I thought) filming, a few curious people approached me, intrigued by what I was doing. 

I asked them some questions as I was so captivated by this phenomenon in front of my eyes – because really, how could I not? While they didn’t all want to be on camera, they were kind enough to share their stories and I gained some wonderful insight.

One particular 72-year-old man stood out. He was the first to approach me with his impeccable English and wanted to share that he wasn’t there as a parent, but for himself. He was looking for an older woman, though he wasn’t carrying a sign as he said he found that part a bit embarrassing. 

As we spoke, a small group of other men gathered around us. Most didn’t speak English, but I learned they were all there for the same reason as him. That section of the park, I later learned, is unofficially reserved for the older generation.

Further along, we met a younger man, probably in his early 30s. He mentioned that he lives and works in Shanghai and had heard a lot about the marriage market, so decided to check it out for himself.

Though he didn’t say whether he was looking for a girlfriend, he seemed to be playing it cool – but I definitely caught him reading the ‘resumes’!

I asked him how he’d feel if his parents were there with a sign for him. He laughed and said ‘I’d be so embarrassed’ – echoing my feelings, because honestly, same.

We spent a significant amount of time with him, strolling around the market and him translating some of the more unusual resumes for us. It was so wholesome.

He pointed out something interesting that I wouldn’t have otherwise known – the resumes are predominantly for women at the marriage market. 

In Chinese culture, it’s often harder to find husbands for daughters than the other way round, because tradition says a woman should marry a man with a better job, higher salary, and yes – someone taller than her.

While I wasn’t overly surprised by this, being pretty familiar with Indian culture which historically shares some of these traditions, what did surprise me was just how open and accepting people are about it all.

I learned that having your children well married is of crucial importance in China. 

One particular young man in his early 20s was there for himself. He stood surrounded by a crowd of women and parents, and it wasn’t entirely clear at first whether they were all genuinely interested in him as a potential match, or just curious, trying to get a closer look at his ‘resume’.

At first, I felt a bit sorry for him. He was standing on a step, towering over the crowd with a large tripod displaying his ‘resume’, being made a spectacle of, almost like it was against his will. 

While he didn’t speak English – through the powers of Google Translate (an absolutely invaluable app in China), it transpired he was there entirely by choice. 

His parents weren’t even in Shanghai. He’d come on his own, genuinely hoping to meet someone, with the goal of getting married sometime soon. It was actually really sweet.

Where is Shanghai Marriage Market?

Shanghai marriage market takes place every Saturday and Sunday between 1 and 5pm at People’s Park (Renmin Park) in Huangpu District. If you are only visiting for one or two days, and one of those days in Shanghai happens to be on the weekend, you must come here to experience it for yourself.

To get to People’s Park, you can take the metro Line 1, Line 2, or Line 8 to People’s Square Station – or simply take an Uber.

It is a bit of a walk from the metro station and you have to walk for about 10 minutes into the park before you will see it – depending on which side you enter from. You can’t miss the crowds of people lined up with laminated ‘resumes’.

Why do people take part in marriage markets in China?

It’s easy to look at something unusual like the Shanghai marriage market and wonder, why don’t people just date on their own? But once you dig a little deeper and consider the cultural expectations and pressures around marriage in China, it starts to make more sense.

In many Chinese families, marriage isn’t just about love between two people – it’s about stability, family honour and ensuring future generations. Parents often feel a strong responsibility to help their children find a ‘suitable’ partner, and they take this role seriously. 

If their child is unmarried past a certain age (late 20s or early 30s, especially for women), it can cause a lot of anxiety for both the child and their family. 

There is even a term for unmarried women over a certain age: sheng nu, (translating to ‘leftover women’) – which says a lot about the pressure they are under.

Not everyone who takes part is doing so because of family pressure, though. Some genuinely see it as a practical way to meet someone, especially in a city as huge and fast-paced as Shanghai, where forming real connections can be tough. 

While it might seem a bit outdated from a Western perspective, there’s something touching about parents wanting to be so involved, especially when their intentions come from a place of love and care (even if a little misguided at times). Even if the matches don’t lead to relationships, this is a place for parents to express their anxieties about their children’s marital status and to connect with other families.

For some, marriage markets in China allow people to maintain the traditional customs of match-making and arranged marriages – while giving their children the option of saying no. Something that traditionally wouldn’t have been considered.

I guess it’s not that different from using a dating app, just…with parents acting as your matchmakers. I know which one I’d prefer, if I was single though!

It’s worth noting that there are numerous marriage markets in China, particularly in major cities like Beijing and Chengdu. However, the Shanghai marriage market is the largest and most famous one.

What makes Shanghai Marriage Market so popular?

Part of the appeal of the Shanghai Marriage Market is that it’s become more than just a matchmaking spot – it’s a full-on cultural phenomenon. Located right in the heart of Shanghai, it draws attention not just from hopeful parents, but also from curious locals, a few tourists and even international media. 

It has become a bit of a spectacle, in the most fascinating way.  

There’s also something uniquely old-school and human about it. In a world where dating has become so digital, this face-to-face, laminated paper-sign approach feels oddly refreshing. 

Yes it’s traditional, but it also feels more authentic for the parents strolling through resumes, chatting in person, weighing up options like they’re shopping at a market (because, in a way, they are). 

The popularity also stems from the belief that parents know best. Though it might seem intense or old-fashioned, the sheer number of people who show up every weekend suggests that this market still holds relevance in a rapidly modernising society.

Shanghai is a major global hub for finance and commerce in China with the second-highest average monthly income. The city offers a high standard of living and ample career opportunities, which is why many people want to find a spouse and then settle here. 

It is also beneficial for parents to encourage their children to tie the knot with someone who already owns a house in this sprawling city.

Tips for visiting Shanghai Marriage Market

• Don’t photograph the resumes without asking! Many parents won’t like it and will shoo you away. 
• Talk to the locals; you will gain such a better insight into the culture this way.
• Befriend somebody there who speaks English and can read Mandarin for a much better experience. That will allow you to understand all the interesting things that people write on those resumes.
• And of course, it’s an outdoor market so remember to dress comfortably, for both the intense heat and rain too!
• Prepare to spend longer than anticipated there as you walk through the crowds, it really is such an interesting experience.

If you enjoyed this guide on visiting the Shanghai Marriage Market, PIN IT for later!

Watch my Shanghai vlog below: