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Associated Press

Steve Chen had never been in love. In spring 2024, though, it happened.
The 25-year-old met his first girlfriend in a way he could not have imagined before: a live-streamed video chat.
Frustrated with traditional dating and dating apps, Chen jumped on a new trend among young, single people in mainland China.
Those looking for love go into video chat rooms hosted by what is called a “cyber matchmaker”, all while thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time.
The number of single people in China over 15 reached a record high of 240 million in 2023, according to government data.
Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathetic to what people say
Cyber matchmaker Tian Xin
Facing a plummeting birth rate and an ageing population, the government has encouraged single people to marry and have multiple children. In 2024, the State Council, China’s cabinet, mandated that local governments build various platforms for youth to have more opportunities to date.
“We should actively foster a new type of marriage and childbearing culture,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech in 2023, encouraging people to start families.
Shy and introverted, Chen found dating very hard. He used to describe himself as “mutai solo”, Chinese slang for being single since in the mother’s womb.
But those days are over.
In a live-stream video chat room, Chen fell in love. It was hosted by Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker who has live-streamed virtual group dates on the Chinese social media app RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, for over a year.

By day, Tian works at a tech firm. At night, she transforms into a matchmaker who breaks the ice, cracks jokes, moderates conversations and sometimes offers relationship advice. Her account has more than 130,000 followers.
“Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathetic to what people say,” Tian says.
At 11pm on a weeknight, over 800 viewers watched Tian’s video chat room with background music of love-themed Chinese pop songs. Eight people were on camera, their faces arranged in a grid on the screen. Another dozen waited in a digital queue.
I don’t have time to socialise with people and make friends
Steve Chen, who met his girlfriend in a live-streamed video chat
Tian started by asking each participant a similar set of questions: age, weight, height, job, income, location, zodiac sign, hobbies and requirements for partners.
“Do you have a talent or skills to show us?” Tian asked one contestant, a physical education teacher.
The man took off his shirt and flexed his biceps and six-pack abs. Mouths dropped open. Some clapped.
A new comment popped up in the chat with a series of laughing emojis: “Lol. Is dating so competitive these days?”
After the initial set of questions, participants chatted about their day-to-day lives and work as they went about their nightly routines – all on camera. One person washed off her make-up while another ate a late-night dinner of fried chicken.

As a medical student doing his residency, Chen said he had little free time to date. “The pressure of study and work is very strong. I don’t have time to socialise with people and make friends.”
Chen is not alone in feeling this way. Over 30 per cent of young people who are single said it is because of their busy work schedules, according to a 2025 report from iiMedia Research, a Chinese data analysis agency.
Many companies in China ask employees to work 12-hour days, six days a week. In response, there is a growing trend of “lying flat”, or working as little as possible – and choosing to remain single – to resist societal pressures.
For those who want to get married though, the live-streamed videos are an appealing alternative to traditional matchmaking methods, like marriage markets – where families exchange resumes and arrange dates for their unmarried children. They are also another option for those tired of dating apps.
Christine Zhang says the live-streamed videos are more fun and interactive than the apps.
Finding love is hard. I had to muster the courage to share my feelings in front of the camera. I think only those who are brave find love
Christine Zhang, live-stream follower who found love online
“You can see more than just photos on profiles in live streams. You can see how one person speaks and acts,” Zhang says.
She started regularly tuning into Tian’s live stream, where Chen – also a regular – caught her eye. He sometimes danced and sang in front of the camera.
In front of hundreds of viewers on the live stream, Zhang shared that she had a crush on him. Other participants, along with an audience of hundreds of followers, were impressed by her courage.
The matchmaker introduced them and encouraged them to talk one-to-one off the live stream. They texted and met up in person several months later.
Nearly a year later, the two are in a serious relationship. They both said they feel lucky to have met.
“Finding love is hard. I had to muster the courage to share my feelings in front of the camera,” Zhang says. “I think only those who are brave find love.”


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Dating

Chinese singles seek love via live video chats – while thousands watch and comment

Live-streamed video group chats are a new dating trend in China, where busy singles don’t have much time for romance. One of those hosting such chats is Tian Xin (above), a cyber matchmaker with more than 130,000 followers. Photo: AP

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a live stream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu. Photo: AP

Tech worker Tian Xin hosts live stream group meetings and more than 130,000 followers. Photo: AP

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Personal trainer Aileen Wong invites dog lovers to join in a Saturday morning dog walk/run/jog. Photo: Aileen Wong

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Among the flavours available in Harlow Ice Cream and Snack Baby’s collaboration are a lavender, strawberry and hojicha combination. Photo: Snack Baby

Personal trainer Aileen Wong invites dog owners to join herin a Saturday morning dog walk/run/jog to help animal welfare charity SPCA HK Photo: Aileen Wong

YouTube’s first 20 years, from dating site to home-video platform to ‘king of all media’

YouTube is celebrating 20 years since its first video upload. Photo: AFP

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, at the 36th Annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles in 2023. He got his big break on YouTube, a site created 20 years ago. Photo: TNS

People walk by a YouTube logo, as Google celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first video uploaded to YouTube. Photo: AFP

Shenzhen travel guide: how to get a visa on arrival, which apps to download and cashless payment in the Chinese city

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Shenzhen taxis can be ordered via Didi Chuxing, the Chinese equivalent of Uber. Photo: Shutterstock

Alipay accepts foreign-issued credit cards and can be used to make e-payments in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Baidu Maps is more accurate than Google Maps in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Family & Relationships

In China, busy young singles are meeting in group video chats hosted by a cyber matchmaker with others watching, and some are finding love


In China, busy young singles are meeting in group video chats hosted by a cyber matchmaker with others watching, and some are finding love.


Internet

China