Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – On a spring afternoon, the matchmaking corner in Chengdu's People's Park bustled with activity. A noticeable increase in foreign faces appeared in the area filled with marriage proposals. They paused, translating the dense text on the papers with their phones, or whispering with companions, sharing their surprise and insights. This matchmaking spot, brimming with the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life in Chengdu, has become a new popular stop for foreign tourists during their Citywalk tours.
As a distinctive Chengdu landmark, the People's Park matchmaking corner, after years of standardized management, now features separate sections for male and female marriage proposals, with materials neatly organized. It's a regular place for local parents to find suitable partners for their children. Recently, a large number of foreign tourists have come specifically to experience it, making it a vibrant scene of cultural exchange between Chinese and Western marriage and dating.
For many foreign tourists, this offline matchmaking format, involving parents and displaying paper resumes, is almost unheard of in their own countries, filling them with a sense of novelty. Spanish tourist Angela said that when searching for travel information in Chengdu, she almost always saw recommendations for People's Park, and the matchmaking corner was her main destination for this trip. "This kind of thing doesn't exist in Spain; we all use dating apps," she said. She particularly noticed that most of the matchmaking ads here didn't include personal photos; people could only develop an interest based on text information, and couldn't meet the person in advance, which she found both unique and somewhat "demanding."
For Italian tourist Federico, this was more like a window into Chinese culture. He learned about the matchmaking corner through a tour guide and came out of curiosity to see what information Chinese people display when looking for a partner and what conditions they value. Compared to his own culture, he bluntly stated that Italians' way of making friends is more direct: "When we like someone, we will take the initiative to talk to them, see if we can find interesting common ground, and we can get to know each other in a few days."
The difference in parental involvement in Chinese and foreign marriage and dating cultures became a focus of discussion among foreign tourists. Australian tourist Amy admitted that in Australia, parents don't publicly post information to find partners for their children, which is completely different from the local dating culture.
American tourist Priscilla saw the underlying cultural logic. She stumbled upon the matchmaking corner while touring a park with a tour group, having previously learned about it online. She believes this approach is similar to online dating in the US, but it better reflects the importance of family values and allows people to genuinely feel parents' hopes for their children's marriage. "I think this format is excellent. I even filmed a video and translated the materials to share with my friends."
British tourist Lynn, who has visited China seven times, witnessed firsthand the transformation of the matchmaking corner from scattered, handwritten notices by parents to the now organized and categorized information. Based on her own experience, she analyzed that the British are accustomed to meeting partners in pubs and parties, relying on alcohol to relax and socialize, while the matchmaking corner provides a channel "to meet each other without going to a pub." Lynn stated that this model of parents arranging everything is very appealing. Although she doesn't want her parents to make decisions for her, she fully understands the family warmth behind this culture.
Data provided by the Chengdu Border Inspection Station of the Sichuan Provincial Border Inspection General Station shows that in the first quarter of this year, more than 525,000 people chose to enter and exit through Chengdu's air ports, a year-on-year increase of 48.2%. Visa-free entry for foreigners reached over 206,000, accounting for 78.7% of the total number of foreign visitors, a significant year-on-year increase of 74.8%. More and more foreign tourists are venturing into the streets and alleys of Chengdu, experiencing the authentic and vibrant daily life of the city. These local scenes are becoming a unique charm of Chengdu for attracting overseas tourists. (End)
