Enter Tian Xin, a one-of-a-kind cyber matchmaker who’s been making big waves on China’s dating scene with her livestreamed virtual group dates. Utilizing Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media app, Tian has cultivated an impressive following of over 130,000 users in just over a year. By day, Tian excels at the tech company life. When the sun goes down, she turns into a private matchmaker, getting the conversation flowing and steering the flirtatious pairs as they look for love on the dance floor.
In her creative connective style, the shrewd matchmaker Tian Xin opens things up by putting everyone through a round of icebreaker questions. Here are 37 questions: what is your age, weight, stature, profession, income level, where does he/she live, sun sign of your partner, hobbies, etc. That organized but authentic approach cultivates a welcoming environment for singles to forge deeper connections.
Combined, these livestreams draw about 800 concurrent viewers per livestream. Participants go through these live interactions as thousands of followers chime in to comment on the back and forths. Tian Xin not only leads discussions with grace, but with wit as well, providing comic relief and relationship advice as needed.
One of the Americans taking part in this new dating phenomenon is Chen, a 25-year-old medical student now in residency. As a result, Chen has found it difficult to fit his fast-paced life around socializing, much less the potential for dating.
“The pressure of study and work is very strong. I don’t have time to socialize with people and make friends,” – Chen
Chen joined one of Tian Xin’s livestreams and found his first girlfriend through it. His experience is a testament to how virtual spaces allow for connections that may not be possible in real-life dating environments.
We got to hear from a Fellow Christine Zhang, a PE teacher, who opened up about her feelings in the raw during one of the livestreams. Before the eyes of hundreds of live streamers, she announced her feelings for then 24 year old Chen.
“Finding love is hard. I had to muster the courage to share my feelings in front of the camera,” – Christine Zhang
Almost a year after their first encounter on the online broadcast, Chen and Zhang have developed into a committed romance. Christine muses that these livestreamed connections offer greater richness than typical dating app profiles.
“You can see more than just photos on profiles in livestreams. You can see how one person speaks and acts,” – Christine Zhang
Tian Xin is not only a matchmaker. She builds an environment that makes people feel safe to share their stories authentically while they figure out what it really means to make romantic connections. Her focus on empathy has been key to her success.
“Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathetic to what people say,” – Tian
In this digital age, where many find themselves struggling to meet potential partners through conventional means, Tian Xin’s approach offers a refreshing alternative. Virtual group dates foster deeper connections that are the foundation for serious romance.
As more individuals like Chen and Zhang embrace these online platforms for dating, it becomes evident that the landscape of romance is changing. Whatever the magic formula—be it technology, human input, or both—the answer seems to be filling the gap for people looking for love.
