Xiao Qiang (right), a male Beluga whale, delivers a Valentine's Day rose and a kiss to Xiao Xin, a female, at the Qingdao Ocean World. Photo: CFP

By Liu Chang

A new survey conducted by social scientists and released on Valentine's Day said a growing number of young people believe blind dates are a good way to find a wife or husband in China.

In addition, a majority of singles watch dating shows on TV, according to the report issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and jiayuan. com, a dating website.

The survey team interviewed 21,694 Chinese men and women between 23 and 35, in 16 cities, 30 percent of whom are from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The survey concluded that 77 percent of single men and women said blind dates are ac-ceptable because they have a very limited social circle and do not have enough opportunities to meet people.

More than 90 percent said they watch dating shows on TV.

Some 76 percent picked personality as the most important quality they look for in a blind date, 38 percent said appearance, and 34 percent said shared common interests. Only 26 percent said income was the most important factor.

Li Hongxiang, a marriage and relationship expert at Jilin University, told the Global Times that his previous research also found blind dates are a major way for people to meet and get married in China, especially in the rural areas.

"I think blind dates are compatible with Chinese traditions and values for marriage, and that is the main reason why it is so widely accepted in China even now," said Li. "It is almost the only way Chinese people get to know each other and step into marriage in history."

The report also showed that Chinese are tolerant of cross-cultural and homosexual relationships.

Some 70 percent would date someone outside China and 63 percent felt homosexual rela-tionships are normal.

However, Chinese are still conservative on some issues.

Only 11 percent felt both partners should work and do without kids while nearly 60 percent rejected such ideas.

The survey found more people are getting married later.

Those who got married for the first time when they were between 20 and 24 fell from 47 percent in 2005 to 37 percent in 2009; and those who got married after 40 rose from 3.9 percent in 2005 to 12.2 percent in 2009.

However, the divorce rate has been climbing along with the marriage rate.

The number of marriages registered between 2001 and 2005 was about 8 million a year and it climbed to 12 million in 2009.

The divorce rate has risen annually since 2000. In 2010, there were 1.96 million divorces in China.

The report also said the men -to -women ratio in the country in 2009 was 118:100, indicating it will be difficult for men to find partners in the future.