Hundreds of Chinese elders seek romance at speed-dating event

World Today

Here’s news for those think speed dates are just for unmarried youngsters. On Thursday, hundreds of elders gathered for a mass blind-dating session in Zhongshan Park, Jinan in east China’s Shandong Province.

More than 500 people participated in the event. The oldest was an 86-year-old man, and the oldest female was 73, China Foto Press reported. This year marks the ninth year of this annual special speed-dating event. Attendees must be over 60 for males and over 50 for females.

Hundreds of Chinese elders seek romance at matchmaking event

Participants are looking for someone to spend the rest of their lives with. However, many are simply hoping to keep loneliness at bay.

“I stay in the bed alone every day. Nobody talks to me, hands over me water or tea,” 81-year-old Mr. Shang said. He said he was hoping to find happiness and to lessen his children’s burden of caring for him.