With lots of attention among both Chinese and foreign bloggers concerning the recent controversial engagement of Zhang Ziyi to a foreigner, the following blog was selected for its study of this rising phenomenon in the eyes of some of China’s netizens.

When it comes to love, Chinese people have always been very conservative and most of us have been influenced by thousands of years of feudal rituals, but I’m not sure when it started but a certain number of avant-garde lovers start bravely breaking down the taboos and started boldly trying relationships with what had previous been considered ‘not quite human’ foreigners. It was due to their being in the spotlight that has caused stars to become the true example of this avant-garde.

From the 1980s onwards, let us look back at the several Chinese women stars who have found love with a foreigner:

Shen Danping was the about the first Chinese actress to ‘eat crab’ (or to try something new that others think of as disgusting’. Not only did she try but she ate her fill and is now very happily married to her German husband, acting as a kind of ‘inspiration’ to other Chinese artists to try finding love abroad.

Wei Wei was also one of the first to find a foreign lover but in the end things didn’t work out so happily. After 10 years married to a Swedish Musician they divorced and this left her in a broken mental state.

Happiness index: 1 Conclusion: 10 years of passion, a lifetime of pain

Another of TV’s ‘sisters’, Shi Ke actually found love in her Swedish husband and after getting married they started a TV company together.

Happiness index: 4.5 Conclusion: Married bliss

Zhang Manyu, tipped as China’s finest female star has a soft spot for French lovers, whether it be her ex-husband or her current boyfriend, they are all suave, jelled back hair Frenchmen.

Happiness index: 4 Conclusion: Romance first, and of course must have a Ferrari.

Ning Jing with her American husband, Paul met each other while making the film Red River Valley, and from then on their love blossomed. But due not getting to spend much time together they ended up splitting up. It became a classic film industry romance.

Happiness index: 2.5 Conclusion: Screen love hardly ever lasts

The most popular actresses obviously get the most attention. This photo has caused a huge stir in all sections of the media, Zhang Ziyi watching a basketball game with her clearly quite ageing fiancé. Many people will wonder whether it really is love that stars are after. Or is it something else? This is a matter only they can decide, and it is possible that Zhang Ziyi is happy.

Happiness index: 3.5 Conclusion: Love gives you new confidence

Finally, another international star Yang Ziqiong is dating the 59 year old CEO of Ferrari and the two were reported to have met at a F1 race, even though Jean Todt looks like her father.

Happiness index: 3.5 Conclusion: Age is no barrier

We can see that the foreigners these female stars choose are not ‘run of the mill guys’, they all have a certain amount of economic weight. It is the nature of the film industry that they set their sights high. They have to make sure they can keep themselves in the manner to which they have grown accustomed. It is therefore completely understandable that with the difference in economic situations between the East and the West that these Chinese stars feel the need to cast their nets wide in search of love. We all have our own ideas of love and standard of living and happiness that we have to try and create for ourselves.
See the article in its original form at Lanse Tiankong’s blog

It seems from this particular blog that the writer is of the opinion that money was the greatest incentive for these women marrying foreign men. Maybe it is merely the nature of the circles they mix in that they meet rich and powerful men, both foreign and Chinese. Let us know your opinion.

***

Dating in > Beijing | Shanghai | Guangzhou | Shenzhen

China Media > Campus Mistresses: College Girls, Pampering and Sex

China Media > The Unmarried Millions: China’s Trend in Dating Older Women

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.