Finance or romance?
Although my blog usually deals with trade issues relating to doing business with China, I like to occasionally toss in a bit of cultural insight for your enlightenment and amusement.
Such is the case today, as we delve into the up and coming education trend in teaching Chinese men and woman – “How to marry a billionaire”. China, if you don’t already know, is second only to the US in terms of the most billionaires in the world.
While flying back home to Shanghai earlier this week after a day of meetings in Beijing, I settled in for the 2 hour flight with my Beijing newspaper. I came across this article and was stunned to learn that they actually have classes that train singles how to find a rich spouse. Only in China you say!
In Beijing, a relationship consulting company runs a course lasting for 10 hours called “How To Marry a Rich Chinese” and for 2000 rmb ($360) you can learn the secrets of finding the rich man (or lady) of your dreams and reeling them in. One on one sessions are available for only 600 rmb ($108)
There are also a few books devoted to this curious subject with such interesting titles such as – “2011 China Investment Guide: How to Marry a Rich Chinese” and “Shanghai Girls: Uncensored & Unsentimental: How to Marry Up & Stay There”.
Most men in China also do not usually marry until they have bought a house, which has to be a huge amount of pressure for them if they happen to live in cities like Shanghai and Beijing where houses prices rival London, Tokyo and New York.
This demonstrates the importance of wealth in their society, which will be the number one in the world by 2015 in luxury goods consumption. China’s economy is rapidly growing as will individual wealth, so that in time, it is hoped that they will be able to balance the pursuit of wealth with the sentimental ideals of the real meaning of romance and marriage.
However, this gives you an understanding about how highly motivated the people here are to succeed and the reasons behind it.
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