A Chinese insurance company is encouraging couples to marry. (Photo : Getty Images)
The marriage insurance promises that with a one-time payment of 599 yuan or $90, the couple will receive a payout of 10,000 yuan or $1,500 if they marry after 10 years.
The insurance company, China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co., the marriage insurance provider, has been receiving a lot of calls for their product, according to Wang, a customer service representative of the company.
Xu Haoyu, a worker from Shanghai commended the product. He said, "The price is no different from a regular gift I'd give to a girlfriend, but it may make the girl feel that it's a serious promise."
However, many are skeptical and said that the product is just a marketing ploy since many couples will break up or marry in less than ten years.
A user in Sino Weibo, Cai Mengsha, commented, "For those who have just fallen in love, it may take three years before they tie the knot, but there are abundant variables that influence a relationship in three years. For those who are in a stable relationship, they won't wait three years before getting married."
Another user with the name "from north to south" said, "The insurance company is using big data to tell us that less than 5.5 percent of the sweethearts will finally become husband and wife."
Li Qiumeng from Chongqing got the marriage insurance for her and her boyfriend who is leaving for the U.S. to study for two years.
"No matter that the insurance finally turned out to be a lesson or reward, it shows our determination for love now," she said.
As companies try to capitalize on the trends brought about by Qixi or Chinese Valentine's Day, the truth remains that divorce rates are on the rise in China.
In 2014, the government reported that there are 3.6 million divorce cases that have been filed.
