It’s not uncommon for Chinese parents to set up their children on blind dates with a potential boyfriend or girlfriend. (Photo : Getty Images)
Many single men in Shanghai look to the auspicious day of love in the hopes of finding their soul mates. The same may be also true for a lot of single women.
This is true for Keri Govender, a single woman from South Africa, who is wishing that she lands herself a Chinese boyfriend on Valentine's Day.
She said, "I think Chinese boys are very sweet and very kind. I meet many Chinese boys and I think they are all very handsome."
However, she admits that the language barrier can be a challenge to meet Chinese men. She said that most guys do not speak English, which makes dating difficult.
The pressure of dating gets stronger with single men in China, who face the stress of marriage from family members. An American, Jason Teeman, has been in Shanghai for two months, shared that he is faced with the stress constantly.
He said, "My mom wants grandchildren. She tells me all the time, 'get married, have children.'"
The bachelor also admitted that Valentine's Day can be a sad day for single men like him.
"When you want to be with another person, Valentine's Day can be sadder than most days. Normally it's like okay because I am just traveling, but on Valentine's I will feel a little sad," he said.
Karen Levey, a writer for the British newspaper, The Guardian, wrote that she sympathizes with men who are faced with the extra pressure on Valentine's Day.
She wrote, "Perhaps the rituals of would-be Valentine's highlight to men the idea (or burden?) that they should be the ones to make the first move, be it a simple Valentine card, or a marriage proposal."
She added, "It's safe to say there will be a silent majority who, on their way home on the 14 February, tag on to the end of the queue to buy one of those single roses, seemingly suspended in cellophane tubes."
The British journalist described Valentine's Day "like Christmas Eve with extra romantic pressure."
