China’s marriage markets (also known as “matchmaking corners” or 相亲角/Xiāngqīn Jiǎo) have become something of a cultural fascination among visitors to Shanghai and Chengdu’s famous People’s Parks. At the center of these urban parks’ vibrant community life lie rows upon rows of laminated sheets listing the age, height, education level, occupation, and more of prospective spouses. Often, the candidates are the adult children and grandchildren of the enthusiastic retirees who run the market.

While cultural and familial pressure surrounding marriage persists in contemporary China, younger generations are increasingly marrying later in life due to reasons including economic stress and changing social values. But this doesn’t mean that young people are entirely opting out of dating; rather, many singles face numerous circumstantial obstacles to finding a partner that matches their expectations. One of these is—especially among busy young professionals in urban areas—a lack of time and energy that can be devoted to seeking out a suitable partner.

However, rather than outsourcing their efforts to the likes of traditional marriage markets, young professionals have been drawn to the recent phenomenon of metro station matchmaking corners. In several cities around China, finding a potential partner may now be as efficient as transferring metro lines during one’s work commute.

In Hefei, Anhui Province, a matchmaking corner opened up at Xinghua Park Station, allowing participants to register via QR code. During its operation, over 4,000 sign-ups were recorded. Taking things to the next level, Hefei’s Xingfuba Station even contains a marriage registration office, which has helped register 5,600 couples since it opened in 2024. On May 20 this year (China’s unofficial Valentine’s Day due to the homophonic resemblance of “520” and “I love you” in Mandarin), the office held a special event during which 200 couples were married.

Similar corners have popped up in metro stations in Guiyang, Nanjing, and Suzhou, aiming to catch the attention of young professionals during their daily commutes. Away from the pressure of anxious family members, participants are able to more freely represent themselves by advertising their hobbies, interests, and personality traits.

While open to participants of all ages, young people have particularly resonated with these matchmaking corners’ seemingly more authentic nature. However, only time will tell whether the romantic connections formed here will run as smoothly as the metro itself.

Cover image via Anhui Traffic Radio.