During a livestream on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, a man leans toward the camera with an earnest, matter-of-fact demeanor. A widower born in 1968 and a native of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, he introduces his personal details like reciting a resume: a married daughter, three years until retirement, a steady income bolstered by rental properties. His search, he states plainly, is for a sincere and stable partner to build a life with.

This candid moment unfolded on an elderly dating livestream hosted by a man in Xi'an surnamed Zhang. After listening, Zhang had a suggestion: As a local, the man could visit Changle Park any Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m., where a weekly matchmaking event for the middle-aged and elderly draws about 100 hopefuls for face-to-face conversation.

Zhang is, in fact, the organizer of that event. He entered this niche after a career in senior care, noticing a gaping need for late-life companionship. Now, he blends daily online sessions with weekly park meet-ups, running his livestream with a rule of authenticity: Every participant must appear on camera, showing their true face to the world.

Finding love online 

Zhang launched his Douyin account in October 2025, going live punctually at 7:30 p.m. every day. Each livestream lasts about three to four hours. Viewers connecting from across the country typically introduce themselves briefly on camera—covering details such as their age, children and financial situation—before sharing what they are looking for in a partner. Every night, many actively request to join the livestream, with some tuning in daily just to increase their chances of meeting the right person. The number of concurrent viewers generally stays above 300, and his account now has over 30,000 followers.

On Chinese social media platforms, livestreams like these, targeting middle-aged and elderly people for matchmaking, are not uncommon. Every day at 9 p.m., a 75-year-old surnamed Chen from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, logs into one such broadcast. The format of this livestream is slightly different: The host first reads out the personal information of those looking for a partner, one by one. After each introduction, if any viewer shows interest, the host invites both parties to go live on camera and connect. If there is no response, the host moves on to the next person.

Chen, who is hoping to find a companion, pays close attention to each female guest's details. "Even if I don't find a suitable match right away, it's still interesting to watch people my age looking for partners every day. It makes me feel less lonely," he told newspaper Henan Daily.

Zhang Dafa, an angel investor who has long focused on the silver economy, has turned his attention to the niche of online dating for seniors over the past two years. "Statistics show that 30 percent of the current matchmaking market comes from people aged 55 and above. They often lack emotional support, experience a deep sense of loneliness and have a clear need for companionship.

He added that this demographic inherently generates its own traffic flow, and since most are unwilling to relocate from their long-term hometowns for the purpose of marriage, matches are usually confined locally. Whenever a couple successfully pairs up, news tends to spread quickly through senior communities—people love to talk about what's happening around them, and as word spreads from 10 to 100, a natural community effect takes shape.

In China, parks that have become spontaneous matchmaking spots for seniors can be found in almost every city. In Shanghai, some elderly individuals even choose the restaurant in an IKEA store as their regular meeting place.

Investor Ge Wenwei has been observing the senior matchmaking industry for three years, including one year spent as a consultant at a high-end retirement home in Shanghai. Based on these experiences, he invested in Old Friends Party, a service tailored for local seniors. The club offers an all-inclusive package, priced at approximately 100-150 yuan (around $14-21), which includes two full meals and a full day of entertainment activities such as singing, playing cards and photography. This model precisely meets seniors' social and leisure needs.

In his view, senior matchmaking is a market with enormous potential, and the service ecosystem built around it is driven by strong, genuine demand. In fact, matchmaking activities for seniors have always existed, with some local governments organizing large-scale dating events. In recent years, however, as the aging population grows and social media becomes more widespread, this field has truly stepped into the spotlight.

Dating shows 

On December 25, 2025, the dating reality show Forever By Your Side, which focuses on mature singles, premiered simultaneously on Guizhou TV and leading video-streaming platform Tencent Video. The show featured 10 urban participants around the age of 50, all from affluent backgrounds, exquisitely dressed and graceful.

In the show, a 53-year-old male contestant made a striking declaration of love: "I don't want a stereotypical 'sunset romance' for the elderly; I want to date like young people do." This man, with his upright posture and passion for fitness, appears much younger than his actual age thanks to his fashionable style.

Although this type of dating show fills a gap in narratives about midlife and senior romance, many viewers find it lacking in highlights. Criticisms mainly focus on two points: First, it simplistically applies the dating patterns of young people, with some audiences bluntly stating, "Watching a group of 50-year-olds dating like youngsters is not as good as just watching young people date;" second, the guests are all too polished, lacking the down-to-earth relatability and broader representation.

In contrast, the senior dating show Love Never Comes Late, which has been airing on a TV channel in Jilin Province since 2019, has consistently been a hot topic on social media since its debut. The show's process is direct and efficient: The production team arranges for the two parties to meet at one of their homes, where they introduce themselves and share their impressions on the spot.

The show's team clearly inquires about key information from the senior participants, including their health status, housing, pension and former profession. They insist on a compatibility rate of over 50 percent before arranging a meeting.

This pragmatic approach, especially the blunt and even somewhat raw conversations during the meetings, has led young viewers to exclaim, "It's so real!" The show is full of memorable quotes, such as "You're not my type; I'm just being frank." "There are just as many unreliable older men as there are young men." Wu Yuexiu, who works on the show, explained to newspaper Worker's Daily, "As they grow older, they can't afford a long, slow-burning romance like young people, nor will they make major changes for anyone anymore."

It is particularly noteworthy that the team behind this lively senior dating show is comprised of young people with an average age of only around 25. The producer, Gao Pengju, initially worked on a dating show for young people but frequently received calls from older viewers asking, "Why not create a dating show for seniors?"

The emergence of this show has made many viewers feel that the long-overlooked or deliberately obscured dating and marriage needs of the elderly have finally been seen. "My own parents are both still alive. If it weren't for making this show, I wouldn't have paid such close attention to the emotional needs of single seniors," Gao said. "I hope that after seeing the emotional needs of the elderly, young people can give their own elders more companionship." BR

(Print Edition Title: Late Bloomers)  

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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