National holiday proves especially golden for ‘hook-up girls’ in quaint Chinese mountain town

A picturesque Chinese town at the foothills of the Himalayas is becoming famous not just for its Unesco World Heritage status but for its thriving “hook-up culture” for singles taking a break from the city.

During the “golden week” national holiday, a special type of tourist industry thrived in the cosy pubs and cafes of quaint Lijiang, in southwestern Yunnan province, a Shanghai-based news portal reported.

Many women paired up with bars across town to bring them customers, mostly men, to buy extra-expensive drinks in return for commissions.

The ladies' most popular tipple was fine wine, which has a larger profit margin for both the publican and the women.

A taxi driver told the Thepaper.cn that some women also offered to serve as tour guides and shopping assistants, from which they earn yet more commissions from merchants.

Social media is been the most common tool for the women to find customers. Some have reportedly earned more than 10,000 yuan (HK$12,500) a month from one bar, according to the website.