Young singles join online search for love

(China Post)- For many young singles in China, Saturday's Chinese Valentine's Day was an urgent reminder for them to get hitched quickly. That in turn prompted more of them to turn to online matchmakers for help.

No longer is the face of such clients only that of a 40-year-old bachelor or spinster; the average age of clients is now much lower. In fact, those under 25 form a sizable chunk of the singles market in China.

Jiayuan — one of the country's largest online matchmaking firms — is no exception. It has close to 19 million active users under the age of 25, or 39.5 per cent of its entire client database.

One reason is the intense competition for love. The number of unmarried men is expected to exceed that of available women by 24 million in 2020, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

And, as more women earn college degrees, their demands increase. Many hope to meet future spouses with good jobs and property. Read more here…