More than 400 people gathered at a park by the Yangtze River on Friday night to celebrate the "Singles' Festival" -- some looking for fun, others for a lasting relationship.

Women threw knitted balls to the crowd, a traditional way of knotting a romantic relationship. On the ball were attached the girls' names and phone numbers.

It was the first time such an event had been organized in this city in southwest China.

The festival was also marked in other parts of the country.

For Mr. Cheng, 46, manager of a communications firm in Chongqing, the event provided another venue for him to meet his dream lover.

"I have been to marriage service agencies many times. But what they really care about is the service fees," he said.

Among the crowd was Mrs. Tang, 50, who accompanied her 28-year-old niece.

She hoped the young woman could catch the attention of a wealthy man.

"There are many talented people here. But what is important is to find a husband with a car and a house," she said.

Jiang Tang, one of the event's guests and known among local media in Chongqing as the "godfather of romance," said more people chose to stay single nowadays because "they want to be responsible for themselves."

Professor Hou from the Faculty of Social Science at Chongqing Normal University said the so-called "bachelor culture" was a rebellion against traditional values.

"In most cases today, it's out of choice," she said, adding that many single people are educated and financially independent. By choosing to stay single, they can pursue their individual freedom whereas marriage implies more social responsibility.

The professor said the festival was a commercial event. Margaret, 23, shared this view.

"It's a shallow and meaningless marketing gimmick. Do you believe you can find your other half in such an event? Give me a break."

Romance, in her view, was "certainly not something you can find in the park."

According to the Chongqing Evening Daily, co-organizer of the event, most of the participants were in their 20s.

A local survey of 280 divorced couples showed extramarital affairs were blamed for 70 percent of the break-ups.

In Shanghai, a singles' tour was organized aimed at those with few relationships and little leisure time.

During the two-day trip, which started at six on Friday evening, 19 single men and 25 single women aged 22-35 will visit Tonglu and Qiandaohu Lake in east China's Zhejiang Province.

According to the deputy manager, surnamed Zhang, of the Shanghai Travel Agency, single women showed more enthusiasm for the activity.

She said there were so many female candidates that there was no room for them all in this tour, and they have had to be persuaded to be in the next group.

In Beijing, a large party for singles was held in Chaoyang District.

"At first, we planned for about 100 participants," said Yuan Rui, one of the organizers. But by Friday afternoon, more than 400 people had registered.

(China Daily November 12, 2005)