Do you want to find love in China or meet a potential lover? Here are some of the trendiest ways singles are meeting their matches online.
Photo: Bing
01
Tantan 探探 – The Chinese Tinder (its Chinese meaning is « probe »)
Slogan: Tantan helps you find the one !
Tantan, the chinese app compared to Tinder, has just raised over US$5M in series-A funding. Tantan works in the same way that Tinder does, and it even looks like it !
Users can fill in manually their profile deion and interests. Indeed, in this field, no Chinese app has yet managed to collect users’ interests as Facebook does.
Then, people can swipe to the left or to the right if they like or don’t like the profile they see on their screen. Once swipping is done, another profile should appear. You can then start a conversation if both of your profiles and the one you liked match.
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Photo: Chinawhisper
Pros – “There are many young and urban people using Tantan, which has a pretty large user base. Moreover, people can handle it quite easily” explained this expert of China .
Cons – There are only few real conversations and meetings compared to the number of matches. Once again, in this field, which is not especially due to the app, both apps join their results in lack of reality. Moreover, you have to type in your own interests, which can be annoying.
With all these quick updates on the Chinese Tinder, you can now start swiping. We sincerely hope that you will be able to find the One !
02
Palpitation* – 心跳 – xīn tiào – Based on Interest
Slogan : An interest-based social networking app that knows you well
Much like Tantan (and Tinder), Xintiao enables you to meet up with people. Though, its main difference is that it has an original user interface design instead of literally copying tinder’s. Users still need to enter interests their manually, but the app (until now) can’t offer the amount of available options that Tantan has.
Pros – Original interface. nice design. The interests seem more important than the look.
Cons -Fewer users than Tantan. Distance-based filters unavailable. Few interest options available. Once again, there are no filters available to select age. It seems clear that Tantan and Xintiao are on a fierce competition. So far, Tantan has taken the lead, mainly because of its user base, which is the main objective for the app as well as the users.
Photo: Chinawhisper
03
« Let’s have dinner »* – 请吃饭 – qǐng chī fàn – The most efficient for meeting-up.
Slogan : I’m free tonight
Qingchifan means « invite someone to share a meal ». Rumors say dates actually happen much more often with qingchifan than with other dating apps. Which is quite easy to understand. This app invites you to share a dinner in its title, so you will soon have to go for it.
The app has a very clear expectation: Share a meal with someone. Therefore, it makes flirting much easier. You can invite, with ease, someone to eat with you. Unsurprisingly, it’s often women who get invited by men.
Photo: Chinawhisper
So usually, guys have to offer dinner on the app. Then they have to select girls who sign up for the date. Somehow, ladies can offer dinner too, which may sound unusual, but happens to be quite nice.
It’s a great way to build new relationships, not just potential dates, because the place selected to have a bite tells a lot about you and your date.
Pros – better chance to get a proper date, original, free lunch and large user base
Cons – in-app purchases, involvement needed to get meals. Some people might find that you actually have to meet someone in reality !
04
Momo 陌陌 / mò mò – Number one Chinese Dating App
Slogan : there’s always something interesting nearby.
Momo is the very first dating app that covers the whole Middle Kingdom. It was seen as the best app for booty-calling not so long ago. In order to get rid of this bad reputation, Momo changed itself from a dating-focused app to an interest-based social networking one. This transformation is much more culturally acceptable. Being the first and biggest dating app, people still think of this particular app when it comes to discovering new people.
Photo: Chinawhisper
However, the app is not an easy one to get along with, because of its many add-on features. Looking for people located near you is fine, but you can also play mini games and join user-generated groups.
Momo has an interesting number of foreign users, which means you can use this app in many different countries accross the world.
Pros – Many features. App based on interest and distance. Huge user base.
Cons – not so easy to handle. Full of ads.
05
Heartbeat* – 心动 – xīn dòng – Safe app for young students
Slogan : love starts with a crush
Xindong is an app made for college students. All users have to submit institutional credentials to be able to use the app. This very strict filtering system shows Xindong’s determination to include the very best of young and educated people.
Its functioning is similar to Coffee Meets Bagel : you get two matches a day, and if the matching gets accepted, both of you and your match can start up a flirt.
Xindong is not an industrial dating app. As they give you two matches a day, it keeps a slow pace which can be a good or a bad point, depending on users’ opinions.
Photo: Chinawhisper
Pros – Young, educated and authenticated users, safe, good looking interface.
Cons – Young population, only two matches a day, not ideal for those looking for serious matches fast. Strict application process..
* Please note the above translations are not exact but closely reflect the meaning of Chinese to English and do not stands as official names or slogans.
Any other APP that you use and are efficient to date in China ? Leave your comments!
