Single life becoming more popular for young Chinese

BEIJING, Aug. 6, Xinhua: While shopping malls are busy preparing sales promotions for Saturday's Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, single folks like Xiang Yong are feeling left out in the cold.

"I feel lonely when I see my friends spending time with their lovers," said Xiang, a 31-year-old Beijing bachelor.

"A large number of people are choosing to be single, which has resulted in a new social tide," said Chen Yaya, an assistant researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Statistics from the All-China Women's Federation show that China currently has 180 million single people, or people who are old enough to be legally married but are not.

Experts attribute a lack of social activities and a tendency to stay at home after work to the increasing number of singles.

A 27-year-old woman surnamed Li said that her daily commute takes her three hours each way. Exhausted after work, Li doesn't even feel like moving when she finally gets home, let alone going out on a date. "During weekends, I prefer being at home," she said.

The increasing cost of living in large cities has led more young women to value the economic status of any possible future husbands. Cars and apartments have replaced sewing machines and bikes as must-have items for marriage.

China's soaring real estate prices have tripped up many a would-be groom. In south China's Guangzhou Province, a survey conducted among single women found that about two-thirds of them regard housing as a top priority when choosing a partner.

"Without our own apartment, our marriage will not have a future," said a Guangzhou native surnamed Zheng, who rejected her boyfriend's proposal because he cannot afford to buy an apartment.

"I don't know what to do but to postpone our wedding," said a 29-year-old man surnamed Niu. "I'm afraid that my girlfriend will leave me if I can't supply an apartment. She also endures a lot of pressure from her parents," Niu added.

Some young Chinese have chosen "naked marriages" - marriages that don't require the traditional dowry-esque trappings of cars and apartments. However, these types of marriages are looked down upon by parents who believe that economic status should trump all other conditions for marriage.

Other factors have also created challenges for single people. Some young Chinese are pursuing jobs that take them away from their homes for extended periods of time.

Rising divorce rates have also played a role in the rising number of singles. China's divorce rate has seen a seven-year increase, according to the China Statistical Yearbook.

More than 5,000 couples divorced every day in China during the first quarter of 2011, up 17 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The increasing number of single people is changing social structures, with more people believing that marriage does not have to be the end goal of their romantic pursuits, experts say.

"Being single is a common social phenomenon, but it should not be advocated," said sociologist Wang Laihua.

She said that an increasing number of singles may lead to fewer babies being born each year. This factor, combined with China's skyrocketing aging population, may create labor shortages in the future.

However, a 27-year-old woman surnamed Deng said that she feels content as a single person, adding that it makes her "feel free."

"I don't think it's necessary to get married, because that means you have to shoulder more responsibilities," she said.