Shanghai nixes laowai love tour

Once again, our city government has stuck its nose where it doesn’t belong, and in the process dashed hundreds of local women’s dreams of finding true love and an American passport (not necessarily in that order), and likewise chances for 11 middle-aged divorced guys from the state of Washington to score some Azn Honeyz. The ever informative Shanghai Daily tells us:

Hundreds of local women who signed up for the chance to attend a matchmaking party with 11 single or divorced men visiting town for a week from the United States have had their hearts broken by city officials.

The Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau banned the event yesterday, saying no matchmaking agencies in Shanghai are licensed to set up dates between Chinese and foreigners.

The Agency in question is the popular online dating site, Love21CN.com. which by the look of things specializes in group/speed dating. For those who are interested, their next Shanghai event is on Aug. 12th and detailed info can be found here. Not sure whether foreigners are allowed, though.

Anyway, a site spokesperson said the Washington 11 made the initial contact. The men range from 43 to 67, many of whom divorced, are on a group tour to China and “wanted to meet some Chinese ladies”. Whether that’s a direct quote or the agency spinning for publicity, we don’t yet know. Because of what happened with Mr. Paul Gillis, we want to be a bit more circumspect this time around. However, if indeed true, then the whole thing, while nothing new, strikes us as both borderline insane and more than a little sleazy. It’s not that Shanghaiist doesn’t believe in second marriages or cross cultural relationships. We see plenty successful examples of both, but an organized tour halfway around the world to date women never before met who clearly do not share your language, interests and culture can’t really be characterized any other way. As for the women who are jumping at the chance to meet these guys … well, we’re at a loss for words, maybe they do deserve each other after all.

For once, Shanghaiist is wholeheartedly supporting a local government edict, well perhaps not for the same reasons, but someone has to stop this madness. And to the WA guys, despair not. There’s always the Shanghaiist Personals site, which features plenty of cute Chinese/Taiwanese/HKnese girls studying/working seemingly everywhere but Shanghai. While on the subject, our biweekly “recommended matches” email continues to pour in with a steady stream of married women in their late 30s and early 40s. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.