China has the most people aged 65 or older in the world, and many of them are alone. In Shanghai, many older, single people are looking for love. Every weekend, divorced or
widowed people go to a dating corner in People’s Park to chat. On Tuesdays, they meet at an Ikea cafeteria for fun.
These older adults dress nicely and are ready to talk about themselves, their past, and their future. For example, Xu Xiaoduo, a 70-year-old man who was a teacher, talks about his
pension and his dancing skills. He wants to find true love but says it is difficult.
There are many older people in China, especially in Shanghai, because China has a low
retirement age. Many older people are lonely because their children and grandchildren are busy with their own lives.The number of older single people in China is growing. In 30 years, 400 million people in China will be 65 or older. More people are looking for love later in life, so there are new dating shows, chat rooms, and dating apps for older adults.
But many older people prefer to meet in person. Every week in Shanghai, many older adults go to parks or Ikea, hoping to meet a new partner. These meetings are like social events.
People bring karaoke machines to the park to dance and sing, and they drink coffee at Ikea while talking about their childhoods.
There are some regular visitors, like Ma Guoying, who is 64, and Zhang Xiaolan, who is 66. Both have been coming for a long time but haven’t had much luck finding a man. They say older men often want younger women. Ma says it is good to come to these events because staying home all day is boring and lonely. Her daughter rarely calls her, so she enjoys being out with other people.
People’s Park in Shanghai is known as a meeting place. Parents go there to find partners for their children, so it also became a place for older people to look for love. Liu Qiyu, who is dressed in blue velvet, says he is not looking for a partner now but understands why others come.
On Tuesdays, older people go to Ikea to find what they call “twilight love.” In the afternoon, the Ikea cafeteria looks like a social club. Many people come to chat with friends instead of shopping. Some women even put on makeup in the bathroom to look nice.
Most older people in Shanghai don’t like online dating. They have smartphones but prefer to meet in person. Li Zhiming,a 69-year-old man, says online dating is not reliable. He has been alone since his wife left him in 1996. He likes to dance, sing, and play cards, and he wants to find a “young and beautiful” woman to take care of. He says he is lonely at home.
Zheng Yue, a 70-year-old woman, sits alone and waits for someone to come to her. Her
husband, who was a police officer, died, and now she is looking for a man who is smart, kind, and mature. She says many women are shy about finding a new partner, but they are brave to come to these gatherings and take the first step.
Adapted from New York Times
Multiple Choice Questions:
1.What is a common activity for older, single people in Shanghai on weekends?
a) Going to the movies
b) Visiting the dating corner in People’s Park
c) Attending dance classes
d) Shopping in malls
2.Why do many older people in China feel lonely?
a) They live in rural areas
b) Their children and grandchildren are too busy to visit
c) They don't like to socialize
d) They have moved to other countries
3.What do people bring to the park to make the meetings more fun?
a) Board games
b) Food and drinks
c) Karaoke machines
d) Books to read
4.Which place in Shanghai has become known as a social club for older adults?
a) A local coffee shop
b) The library
c) Ikea cafeteria
d) A sports center
5.What does Li Zhiming want in a new partner?
a) Someone who likes to travel
b) A young and beautiful woman
c) Someone who can cook well
d) A woman who enjoys reading books
True/False Questions:
1. Many older people in Shanghai prefer online dating to meeting in person.
True/False
2. People’s Park is also known for parents looking for partners for their children.
True/False
3.Xu Xiaoduo is a retired teacher who likes to dance.
True/False
4. The number of older single people in China is decreasing.
True/False
5.Zheng Yue is looking for a partner who is young and adventurous.
True/False
Download the document to see the answer key
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