Helping to find love is matchmaker's best return on investment

On stage, girls wearing masks take turns introducing themselves. Meanwhile, men sitting behind two rows of desks offstage express their interest by turning on a light on their desk.

They are taking part in a dating event held at a matchmaking service center in Nanning, capital of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Since the center's opening in 2015, its founder, Pang Yufang, has seen more than 2,000 people find love.

China has a long tradition of matchmaking. In ancient times, professional matchmakers were part of the pre-marriage ritual. They served as an intermediary for the parents of both families, who made the final call.