By carrying a red shopping basket to say "I'm single," unmarried people will have a chance to find potential life partners in a Beijing supermarket, the Beijing News reported on Monday.

According to the report, the friend-seeking activity started on Sunday evening at a supermarket in Fuli City, a residential compound in eastern Beijing's bustling central business district (CBD).

Unmarried young people who were busy with work and had little time for social activities may express their wish to make friends by carrying a red basket, rather than the normal supermarket blue ones, said a supermarket official.

"I live nearby and came specially for the activity," a young man was quoted as saying. He got acquainted with a girl who carried a red basket in the supermarket, but they departed after a few minutes of chat as the girl was not interested in talking.

In just half an hour, 30 red baskets were taken by people going shopping, but an employee of the supermarket said some carried it in order to get a 10 yuan (US$1.25) discount when a male and a female shoppers carrying red baskets paid their bill together at the cashier.

"It's just a tryout. If people like the activity, the supermarket will consider placing red baskets at the entrance on a regular basis," said a staff member.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2005)