Love at Purse Glance: Half of Chinese Singles Seek Partner With Comparable Wealth

Giving new meaning to the phrase "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," lonely Chinese singles are more likely to mutual reveal bank statements as the preferred method of baring their secrets to each other.

Over half of unmarried Chinese adults are looking for a partner with matchable wealth, according to a recently published survey conducted by the China Youth Daily.

READ: Save the Date: Beijing Singles Named China's Most Active and Frequent Daters

The 1,967 person-strong survey shows Chinese singles to be conflicted over their expectations of potential partners, but are also willing to stick to their ideals in order to find the right partner. Thirty-eight percent of surveyed respondents said they value personal traits, while 36 percent said they paid more attention to financial conditions.

When it comes to finding their soul mates, an overwhelming majority of 85 percent said they are willing to wait, out of which 15 percent even say they're willing to remain single indefinitely.

Unfortunately, Chinese singles are willing to put their faith in dating apps and websites, platforms that two-thirds of respondents describe as "unreliable." And yet, with a majority of Chinese singles opting to rely on social circles to meet prospective new partners, the most common explanation for their lack of marriage partners is because their "social circles are too small."

READ: Beijing Boyfriends Among the Best in China, Says Chinese Dating Website Survey

When it comes to standing up for their romantic ideals, a huge rift opens up between Chinese men and women.

Although nearly three-quarters of young unmarried Chinese men say they are willing to chase after the object of their affections, only 37 percent of Chinese women are willing to admit the same. Additionally, although half of all men surveyed said they expect marriage to provide a sense of security, the same sentiment only applies to 25 percent of Chinese unmarried women. Likewise, unmarried Chinese men are more favorable towards pre-marital co-habitation (66 percent) compared to unmarried Chinese women (47 percent).

As principled as they are, the survey also reveals Chinese unmarried adults to be largely ignorant in the ways of love.

59 percent of respondents admitted they got their sexual education from the internet compared to just 13 percent from schooling. Perhaps most alarming of all, a 43 percent majority of surveyed respondents said their sexual knowledge can be rated as "passable."

READ: Singled Out: Beijing Neighborhoods With High Concentrations of Unmarried Adults Marked As "Disaster Epicenters"

When it comes to dating, Beijing often takes a leading role in China.

Despite having the country's highest divorce rates, Beijing's youths are taking the initiative by being the first among their peers to lose their virginity. But even as one survey suggests that Beijing men make the best boyfriends in China, other surveys suggest Beijing is among the least romantic cities in the world.

More stories from this author here.

E-Mail: charlesliu1 (at) qq (dot) com
Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: ZH News