Chinese men turn to paid marriage agencies amid gender imbalance from past one-child policy

In cities such as Guiyang, men who remain single are increasingly turning to paid marriage agencies that match them with women from poorer regions. Huang Hui, a construction worker, paid a broker after seeing an advertisement on Douyin, receiving a young bride from a mountainous area and signing marriage papers after only a few days together. Legal commentator Fan Binghe notes that while the matchmaking firms are legal, they exploit the skewed sex ratio caused by the former one-child policy, which led to a surplus of men.

Clients often face problems like spouses with significant debts, substance abuse, or undisclosed prior marriages. The police have occasionally blocked journalists from covering these stories, indicating official sensitivity. The phenomenon reflects broader social pressures, as many families still view marriage as essential for men, prompting a lucrative but controversial industry.