Getting married later in life is a modern trend

Marrying later in life is a very modern trend, not just in China but also in Europe, Japan and the United States. That's why articles in Chinese newspapers this month referring to people still not married by 30 as "leftovers" seem so, well, old-fashioned.

The articles, based on surveys conducted by Chinese health groups and medical associations, were about so-called expiration dates, suggesting greater risks of health and psychological problems for women who marry after the age of 27 and men who marry past 30.

Other countries measure getting married at a later age as a matter of economics and educational advancement. China is in the throes of rapid economic growth and placing enormous emphasis on advanced education for its young people. The cost of living is also rising.