The actual name of “Granny Wang from Kaifeng” is Zhao Mei, a 61-year-old performer from the Dasong Wuxia City (?????) scenic area at Wansui Mountain. “Granny Wang’s Matchmaking” was meant to be a programme that introduces everyday life in Kaifeng during the Song dynasty to visitors, but Zhao took the initiative to add matchmaking elements to it.

pared with dating agencies that charge tens of thousands of dollars for their services, Granny Wang’s no-cost, on-the-spot matchmaking really makes people more trusting and relaxed, creating the heartwarming feeling that “everything is done with our best interests at heart”. – netizens

In February, the scenic area had invited various bloggers to experience what Wuxia City had to offer, and the lively and energetic “Granny Wang’s Matchmaking” programme stood out, attracting netizens’ attention.

Chinese state media CCTV said in an article that the appeal of “Granny Wang’s Matchmaking” is its authenticity and the fact that there is no decoy. None of it is an kvinnor Tyska act and the people selected are from the live audience, while the sincere and relaxed atmosphere also gives participants a sense of security.

At the event, Granny Wang acts as the women’s “godmother” and helps them to “find a husband”. She encourages the women: “Just tell me who you like and Godmother here will invite them to the stage.” She also tells the audience: “It is not embarrassing to get rejected!” When she sees a shy man, she would even teach them how to confess their feelings; if a woman fails to find a suitable partner, she also eases the awkwardness: “If you don’t like any of them, I will get all of them to leave the stage.”

In response to suspicions that this was scripted, staff claimed that the participants were truly “picked at random”

More people are specifically travelling to Kaifeng to participate in “Granny Wang’s Matchmaking”. The banner on the car reads: “All my matchmaking dates in Yiyang have failed and now I’m putting the pedal to the metal to Kaifeng. Granny Wang, wait for me!”(Internet)

Netizens feel that, compared with dating agencies that charge tens of thousands of dollars for their services, Granny Wang’s no-cost, on-the-spot matchmaking really makes people more trusting and relaxed, creating the heartwarming feeling that “everything is done with our best interests at heart”.

Netizens even praised Granny Wang for being able to keep the mood on the ground lively and not awkward, even though participants are strangers, holding the audience’s interest and being even more entertaining than many variety shows on television.

However, Granny Wang’s show also had its share of controversy and drama. For instance, a divorced couple of three years took to the stage and after Granny Wang’s mediation, they tearfully embraced and decided to reconcile.

Another male participant who was successful in being paired on stage was revealed to be in fact married, which also drew accusations from some that matchmaking at the location was treated like a game without any background checks done and was not a serious marriage recommendation; young people were advised to “go in with eyes wide open and be wary of being duped”.

. the popularity of “Granny Wang’s Matchmaking” points towards the fact that youths still hold a lot of expectations about love, and many actually hope to find their other half. – Peng Kaiping, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University

Youths still have matchmaking needs?

Experts felt while Granny Wang’s boom in popularity has been given a push by bloggers and viewers, the fact that the show was able to draw in such a large number of participants attests that though the current generation of youths seem uninclined to get married, they still have matchmaking needs.