A 35-year-old programmer surnamed Zhang who works at an internet corporations in Haidian District, Beijing, recently looked for a stand-in actor to travel to her hometown of Harbin for the Lunar New Year holiday. Because she is still unmarried in her 30s, her mother issued a final ultimatum: "Don't even think about coming home unless you bring a girlfriend."
Zhang posted on social media (SNS), saying she was "looking for a stand-in who will go down to my hometown with me during the holiday and pretend to be my girlfriend," and in less than a week, more than 30 comments poured in from agencies and stand-in actors. The price was steep, but Zhang hired a stand-in actor for a peaceful holiday.
Local media said a stand-in service to hire a "fake girlfriend" is flourishing in China during the Lunar New Year holiday, which runs through the 23rd, as people try to avoid family pressure to marry. According to the Economic Observer on the 20th, the market has moved beyond person-to-person transaction on social media to include professional brokerages, becoming systematized.
For example, a company called Meiban launched a dedicated stand-in partner program in Aug. 2025 and now has more than 10,000 stand-in actors nationwide. Meiban started as a wedding support platform focused on connecting stand-in wedding guests, but expanded its services as demand grew for stand-in partners. The company said demand for partner stand-ins has surged more than fourfold ahead of this Lunar New Year holiday.
Prices vary by difficulty. A simple meal and meeting costs about 1,000 yuan (about 210,000 won) per day, and traveling to another region with an overnight stay costs 1,500 yuan (about 310,000 won) or more. Considering the average monthly salary for new college graduates in China is 5,000–6,000 yuan (about 1.05 million–1.25 million won), it is expensive. In addition, any New Year's cash gifts or presents the stand-in actor receives from the client's family must be returned to the client after the service ends.
Companies provide dedicated scripts to clients and actors for a "perfect" performance. They not only align in advance on how the couple first met, family background, and relatives, but, if a specific occupation is involved, they also learn basic information about that field. A stand-in actor surnamed Li told the Economic Observer, "Starting three days before the service, I meet the client online to align on the details," adding, "If I'm too polite to the client while acting, it gives away that it's fake, so I try to be as relaxed as possible."
The Economic Observer noted, "As in Japan, where 'family lending' firms generate large annual revenue, China too is forming a similar market amid aging and a rise in single-person households," adding, "This market is peaking especially during the Lunar New Year."
There are significant risks, however. Female actors sometimes receive inappropriate messages disguised as job postings that ask them to sleep together or allow physical contact, and they must worry about personal safety when traveling to other regions. Citing a local lawyer, the Economic Observer said, "There is a risk that a man could force physical contact on a female stand-in actor, leading to crime, and conversely, a female stand-in actor could commit theft," adding, "Companies are trying to address this with electronic contracts and real-name verification systems."