How much does it cost a man to get married in China? Clue: it involves a flat and wads of cash
Presents are traditionally given by groom to future parents in-law to secure bride’s hand, but cost has rocketed over the past four years, survey suggests
It has become even more expensive to get married in China, particularly in the north, with the cost of betrothal gifts in the capital rising more than 20 fold after just four years, according to a survey.
A groom in Beijing now has to present his prospective in-laws with a 200,000 yuan (HK$29,000) cash gift and buy an apartment for his future wife to win their daughter’s hand in marriage, the study conducted by the state-run People’s Daily newspaper found.
The same study four years ago, which maps out the average cost of betrothal gifts in cities across China, found that a groom only had to give 10,000 yuan in cash and other gifts to gain his prospective in-laws’ blessing.
The exchange of betrothal gifts has been part of Chinese wedding tradition since ancient times. However, China’s population control policies along with some Chinese families’ traditional preference to have sons rather than daughters have created a demographic imbalance.
The increasing shortage of women in recent years has caused the groom’s family to pay significantly more for betrothal gifts.
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