Life of Guangzhou - Singles Busy with Matchmaking Parties on Singles' Day

As the trendy festival, Singles' Day, arrived on 11 November (11/11), "guang-guangs" and "ming-mings" (Internet slang for single men and women respectively) were busy taking part in matchmaking parties in Guangzhou, China.

A "guang-guang" (right) and "ming-ming" socialize during a match-making party in Guangzhou, China on November 11, Chinese Singles' Day. (Guangzhou Daily photo)

On the eve of Singles' Day, over 600 Internet surfers, all of whom were single of course, held a matchmaking party, hoping to find their Mr. or Miss right before Singles' Day.

More "ming-mings" than "guang-guangs"

According to the organizers, there were more women than men on the register. Even at the party, female attendees also apparently outnumbered males. All attendees were well educated with college degrees or above. Some even had PhDs. As to their age, males were between 25 and 35 years old while females between 25 and 32.

A match-making party in Guangzhou, China on November 11, Chinese Singles' Day. (Guangzhou Daily photo)

Foreigners were interested in matchmaking too

At the party, an American guy called Alex attracted a lot of attention. In response to enquiries, Alex explained that the Chinese girl accompanying him was just a friend rather than a girlfriend. "I'm looking for a girlfriend," he said.

An outdoor match-making event in Guangzhou, China on November 11, Chinese Singles' Day. (Guangzhou Daily photo)

College students had fun

It has become fashionable for college students to enjoy themselves on Singles' Day. On the bbs (internet forums) of all colleges and universities, articles about Singles' Day were extremely popular. Some students even competed to post their articles at 11:11am, 11 November, which numerically symbolizes singles.

A girl posted an announcement to find boyfriends; a boy posted an invitation inviting girls to Karaoke; and some boys in the same dormitory dated the girls in another dormitory to celebrate the festival.

(By Wenli Chen and Alan Devey)