GUIYANG, China — Wang Zhuang, 37, traveled to Guiyang in Guizhou province seeking a wife through a matchmaking agency. The agency promised a frugal, devoted woman skilled in household management, whose poor family would ensure she would settle down after marriage, Wang said.
Wang believed he found a suitable partner after only a few meetings. They married quickly, but Wang later discovered his wife had lied about her age, had been married three times, had three children and a serious sexually transmitted disease, and carried significant debt. He is now fighting for a divorce.
Decades of the one-child policy, coupled with a cultural preference for boys, created a stark gender imbalance. China now has 30 million more men than women, a figure exceeding the entire male population of the United Kingdom.
That surplus leaves many men in their late 30s, particularly those in smaller cities or rural areas, with limited options for marriage. Women in these regions often require potential spouses to own a car, a house and a family business, Wang said.
Another burden is the traditional bride price, a custom in which the groom's family pays money to the bride's family. In areas with severe gender disparity, that payment has escalated into a substantial financial strain for many men.
Matchmaking agencies present themselves as a quick solution, offering what they call "flash marriages" — an appeal to men who struggle to find partners as they age.
Wang said he paid the agency his life savings within hours of being introduced to several potential matches. He spent more than 300,000 yuan ($44,000) on the bride price alone. Including the wedding banquet and other expenses, his total outlay was around 400,000 yuan.
State media have reported rapid growth in the matchmaking industry, which has fostered illegal practices. Agencies often exploit the desperation of men facing societal pressure and limited romantic prospects.
Wang's family blames him for the situation. He suffers from insomnia and anxiety, said he cannot focus on his work and cannot return home until he recovers some of his lost savings.
