‘Street girlfriends’ in China sell no-sex companionship, hugs, kisses from market stalls
- Young street vendors sell hugs, kisses and more to young men with neither the time nor inclination to enter a serious relationship
The time-consuming pressures of work and family responsibilities has sparked a trend among China’s young adults of buying emotional connections from street vendors.
A section of young women are willing to sell such services, making them easily accessible and cheap to buy.
In April last year, Southern Weekly first reported on the “street girlfriend” phenomenon across the country, but it gained scant online attention, receiving fewer than 1,000 likes on Weibo.
Recently, mainland internet users have seen the service appearing on the bustling streets of Shenzhen, according to NetEase News.
Young women were reportedly observed selling hugs, kisses and their company from street stalls, reigniting widespread social media discourse about the paid companionship economy.
