China¡¯s street entrepreneurs: From hugs to housework, how girls are selling affection for cash

Street girlfriend trend in China: In the bustling streets of China, a surprising trend has caught everyone's attention. Imagine young women sitting on the sidewalks with rate cards, not selling typical products, but offering moments of affection and companionship for money. Instead of the usual shops and stalls, these women are offering hugs, kisses, and even time spent drinking together. This unusual scene is making waves both online and offline, as it challenges our traditional ideas about relationships and what we value in human connection. This unusual business model is getting a lot of attention both online and offline.

Paying for Affection: A New Way of Connecting

Some people desire affection without any long-term commitment in a world where partnerships often need commitment. According to a South China Morning Post, a recent trend in China allows individuals to purchase tender moments directly from passersby. These transient stands appeal to people looking for emotional connection without making a major commitment by offering various romantic encounters for a fee.

What Do the Rate Cards Offer?

Credit: TOI

Usually, we rent things like houses or cars. But in China, the idea of renting has extended to relationships. In cities like Shenzhen, girls can be seen with rate cards offering services like kissing, hugging, and even drinking together. The prices for these experiences vary: a hug costs around Rs 11, a kiss is priced at Rs 115, and an hour of drinking together is priced at Rs 461.

The Social Media Reaction

Credit: South China Morning Post

According to the South China Morning Post, these stalls have become common, with many photos and videos spreading widely on China's social media platform, Weibo. While this idea is unconventional, it has gained popularity. Some girls use this form of paid companionship to earn money. It¡¯s important to note that these interactions are purely non-intimate.

Here¡¯s a look at the prices:

• Hug: One yuan (Rs 11)
• Kiss: 10 yuan (Rs 115)
• Watching a Movie Together: 15 yuan (Rs 150)
• Doing Household Chores Together: 20 yuan (Rs 231)
• Drinking Together for an Hour: 40 yuan (Rs 463) per hour
• One-day lover: 600 yuan (Rs 6,954) for the warmest care, including meals together, hugs, and kisses, but no intimacy.

This unusual trend has led to mixed reactions. Some people see it as an innovative way to offer companionship, while others criticize it as degrading to women. This new market highlights a complex mix of commerce and emotion, raising questions about modern relationships and the value we place on human connection.

Rent a girlfriend in Japan

In Japan, a trend similar to the one in China involves renting a girlfriend for around 6,000 yen (about Rs 3,300) per hour, with a minimum booking of two hours. First-time clients can choose their girlfriend without an extra fee, but additional dates incur a fee of 2,000 yen (around Rs 1,200). The rental service Shiho reveals that many clients use these services because they have never had a girlfriend or gone on a date before, seeking companionship without long-term commitments.

To maintain professionalism, Shiho enforces strict rules: clients cannot contact the rented girlfriend outside the rental period and are discouraged from giving tips or expensive gifts. This ensures the relationship remains transactional and avoids emotional attachments. The growing popularity of such rental services in Japan is driven by busy schedules and challenges in forming real-world connections.

This trend in China, where girls offer kisses, hugs, and dating experiences for money, challenges traditional views on relationships and personal interactions. As this unique market develops, it makes us think about how human connections are changing and how we value affection and companionship.