Zhongshan Matchmakers
Zhongshan Park, just north of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
As I wandered around last Sunday, I discovered that one area was crowded with middle-aged men and women. After a little bit of detective work, I discovered that all of these people were parents matchmaking for their sons and daughters. Many had posters, cards or photographs describing their 20-something offspring.
I had heard about this before. It seems to be another consequence of the One Child policy: the parents are desperate to make sure the family name is continued into the next generation, whilst the children are too busy at work to have time to meet people.
I gather the sons and daughters are aware of this practice, but don't generally approve - which I think would be the same reaction as children anywhere in the world!
Zhongshan Matchmakers
Zhongshan Park, just north of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
As I wandered around last Sunday, I discovered that one area was crowded with middle-aged men and women. After a little bit of detective work, I discovered that all of these people were parents matchmaking for their sons and daughters. Many had posters, cards or photographs describing their 20-something offspring.
I had heard about this before. It seems to be another consequence of the One Child policy: the parents are desperate to make sure the family name is continued into the next generation, whilst the children are too busy at work to have time to meet people.
I gather the sons and daughters are aware of this practice, but don't generally approve - which I think would be the same reaction as children anywhere in the world!