According to an online survey conducted by China Youth Daily and Tencent, about 50 percent of the responders still believe in true love, while 51.6 percent of females and 58.8 percent of males think abundant material wealth is necessary for a happy marriage. 

 

About 47.4 percent of female and 39.3 percent of male responders agree that happy marriage requires real property. More than 7 percent of female responders even say they would never think about men without houses and cars of their own, and nearly 12 percent of male responders would not propose to their girlfriends unless they have solved the "car & housing problems" first. The focus on "cars and houses" actually reflects their pursuit for stable and decent lives, as both are considered as symbols of wealth in China. 

 

Interestingly, more than half of the responders think it is men's responsibility to support the families, and nearly all the rest believe it takes mutual efforts of women and men, but nearly none think it is up to women to support the families.

 

When asked about their attitude towards marriage, most of them say they appreciate love and responsibility, but "practical" issues like wealth and jobs should be taken into consideration, too.

 

(CRI November 9, 2006)