Gen Z in China is transforming romance with creative dating approaches, showing how modern love can blossom from shared passions and unconventional activities.

Zhu Mingxuan, 23, met her boyfriend through their shared passion for frisbee, a sport that typically attracts young enthusiasts of similar ages who train together regularly and sometimes even travel out of town for competitions.

Their relationship blossomed as they first competed against each other on the field and later as teammates.

"The sport physically makes your heart beat really fast. Spending a lot of time together, plus traveling, makes falling in love quite natural with frisbee," said Zhu, adding that she knows several couples who bonded through the sport.

For a long time, the dating routine among Chinese young people has been dinner, movies, and a walk in the park — what netizens usually refer to as the "classic dating trifecta". These days, however, Gen Zers are starting to explore alternative approaches to finding romantic partners and diverse dating experiences.

According to Zhu, frisbee is a significant part of her identity, something she has been devoted to since high school. It still occupies a substantial amount of her time. "That's why an ideal partner for me is someone who can either play frisbee or at least talk about it with me," she said.

In addition to frisbee, the two also share a love for running. Zhu's boyfriend has been running since he was a kid, while she runs 10 kilometers about twice a week. "We both value self-discipline and strive to become better versions of ourselves," Zhu said.

Yu Shiheng, 28, and his girlfriend met through a scripted murder game, or jubensha, a popular immersive live-action role-playing game in China. Many believe that such games, which evoke strong emotional responses, can quickly bring two people closer together.

For Yu, the game was more of an opportunity to get to know each other rather than a turning point in their relationship.

"While some may feel butterflies in their stomachs during the game, for us, it was the sincere conversations and interactions outside the game that really solidified our bond," Yu explained.

According to him, scripted murder games can reveal insights into someone's character and certain abilities based on their in-game persona.

"There may be some distortions due to the characters people are playing, making it challenging to truly understand who they really are," he said. "It's possible, though, to see if they have strong comprehensive abilities, effective communication skills, empathy, and how firmly they stand by their beliefs and values."

While Yu finds joy in virtual reasoning, Zhang Xiaoxuan, 29, and her husband spend much of their time on various DIY crafts, including tufting, making scented candles and key chains, coloring ceramics, and creating "diamond paintings "by arranging beads.

"We've probably tried every craft out there," Zhang said. She acknowledged that such activities provide an opportunity for one to impress their partner, showcasing their artistic sense, strength, and skill.

Zhang explained that she is an adventurous person who wants to explore everything and that her husband is a "loyal companion".

"I'm the one with tons of hobbies and ideas, and he's always willing to join me," Zhang said.

Last year, they visited eight cities in China together. They even tried buying a blind box plane ticket at Zhang's suggestion, meaning they didn't know their destination until they opened the ticket. Zhang planned each trip, and her partner only had to show up.

"Several of our couple friends didn't understand, saying that they always plan these things together. However, this system works for us. I enjoy taking the lead, and my husband is perfectly fine with it," she said.

New dynamics

Zhu noticed an interesting shift in dynamics with her boyfriend on the frisbee field since they started dating. While many couples enjoy playing side by side, Zhu and her boyfriend found that being on the same team could lead to minor conflicts and sometimes even arguments if they played together.

"I guess it's just easier to lash out at someone close to you," Zhu said. "But it's different when we play separately: we cheer for each other enthusiastically, and the one playing acts like a 'peacock', showing off fancy techniques to impress the other."

As for Yu, he and his girlfriend continue to spend most of their free time playing scripted murder games after they became a couple. However, Yu admitted that while he enjoys the game, it's still just make-believe. If he were to play matchmaker, he would probably choose something outdoors, such as camping or hiking.

"During these kinds of exploratory activities, you're likely to encounter small challenges or certain difficulties," Yu explained. "I think in these situations you can see their 'raw selves' and genuine responses while handling things."

Zhang and her husband have been married for over a year now. She mentioned that while the "classic dating trifecta" of movies and dinners might seem mundane to new couples, they still enjoy these activities. For them, watching movies and having dinners have become a part of daily life rather than something reserved for special date nights.

The two also engage in a variety of other activities together, from walking their dog and exercising to playing PlayStation 5 games at home.

"I believe every couple or couple-to-be has their own pace and dynamic that works for them," Zhang said. "While certain activities may kindle the spark in a relationship, what's most important is the sense of togetherness. As long as there is genuine affection between two people, any activity can help strengthen their bond."

lixinran@i21st.cn