Chinese Valentine's Day: Being alone doesn't mean being lonely with live-streaming

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According to consulting firm BCG, 16 per cent of China’s urban population now live alone. For many of them, it would be a Valentine's day without a plus one. However, is that necessarily a bad thing? CGTN's Yang Chengxi has more on what this new generation does on this special day.

Nan Feng, 22 years old, single. He is one of China's 77 million adults who live alone. This is how he normally spends his weekends: mobile gaming, or going on live-stream websites, watching people sing or play games online.

NAN FENG, LIVE-STREAMING VIEWER "People like live-streaming because of a sense of participation. They can send real time comments and give virtual gifts. This makes the relationship between the streamer and the viewers very intimate."

YANG CHENGXI SHANGHAI "With internet-based entertainment getting wildly popular in China, today's millennials can now truly be able to stay alone without being lonely."

Live-streaming is big business in China. Up till June, the country has 270 live-streaming platforms, which collectively have 343 million users. Ai Zixuan, nicknamed Hanhan on the internet, streams herself playing games, and every time she streams, some 300 thousand people watch her play and chat with her.

AI ZIXUAN, LIVE-STREAMING HOST "My fans love to chat with me about all sorts of things. They treat me as a friend and a source of emotional support. They give me emotional supports too."

And many of her fans spend real money to buy her virtual gifts. Such form of donation is the main source of income for live-streamers.

NAN FENG, LIVE-STREAMING VIEWER "Some people spend a huge amount of money on giving virtual gifts, because there is no limit as to how many you can give."

Gift-giving is what supports this lucrative business. Despite China tightening regulations over live-streaming sites, the big bucks are propping up many talent agencies. Zixuan signed with one called MQ. The company conducts user research and use ways to boost viewer loyalty. They have a major campaign for the coming Chinese valentine's day in August.

CHEN YIMIAO, DIRECTOR HANGZHOU MQ CULTURE LIMITED "Judging by our past experiences, the number of people watching live streaming will increase during special days like this. Every year we will have some special plans for our streamer talents to interact with their fans."

Zixuan has something planned for her fans too.

AI ZIXUAN, LIVE-STREAMING HOST "On Chinese valentine's day I want to randomly choose several fans and mail them chocolates. It is my way of showing my gratitude for their supports."

With more people opting to marry later in life in China, the number of people living alone is expected to rise to 92 million by 2021. But for people like Nan Feng, a Valentine's day without a valentine isn't such a bad thing at all in the internet age.

YCX CGTN SHANGHAI