Volunteers wearing PPE spray disinfectant in Zhengzhou, China.
Volunteers wearing PPE spray disinfectant in Zhengzhou, China. Photograph: VCG/Getty
China

Woman’s diary goes viral as lockdown in China forces her to stay with blind date

Wang went for dinner at date’s house in Zhengzhou when Covid forced thousands into quarantine

A Chinese woman has become an overnight sensation after she posted video diaries documenting her life after being stuck at a blind date’s house.

Wang went for dinner on Sunday at her blind date’s residence in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, where a recent outbreak of Covid cases sent thousands into quarantine in parts of the city. As she was finishing her meal, the area was put under lockdown.

She was unable to leave her date’s house as result, she told the Shanghai-based news outlet the Paper this week, saying she had gone to the city for a week-long trip to meet potential suitors from the southern province of Guangdong.

Wang quickly shared the bizarre experience with friends on social media. “I’m getting old now, my family introduced me to 10 matches … The fifth date wanted to show off his cooking skills and invited me over to his house for dinner,” said Wang in one of the videos.

Show more

She also posted short videos documenting her daily life in lockdown on WeChat, which show her date cooking meals for her, doing household chores, and working on his laptop while she sleeps, according to clips published by local Chinese media.

“Besides the fact he’s as mute as a wooden mannequin, everything else [about him] is pretty good,” Wang told the Paper on Tuesday. “Despite his food being mediocre, he’s still willing to cook, which I think is great.”

Although Wang did not seem to complain about the experience, the prolonged lockdown has not caused romance to bloom.

Wang’s experience is not unique. Last month a man found himself under lockdown while moving his luggage in Xi’an in the north-western Shaanxi province. He had to borrow a duvet from neighbours.

What was unexpected for Wang, however, is that her video diaries became an online sensation on China’s social media platform, Weibo. A related hashtag has been viewed more than 5m times across China.

But Wang’s fame also led to embarrassment for her date. She has now taken down some of the videos. “Friends have been calling him and I think this has definitely affected his life, so I have taken them down for now,” she said in a video posted on Tuesday.

“Thanks everyone for your attention … I hope the outbreak ends soon and that my single sisters also find a relationship soon.”

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

An erosion of democratic norms. An escalating climate emergency. Corrosive racial inequality. A crackdown on the right to vote. Rampant pay inequality. America is in the fight of its life. If you can, please make a gift today to fund our reporting in 2022.

For 10 years, the Guardian US has brought an international lens with a focus on justice to its coverage of America. Globally, more than 1.5 million readers, from 180 countries, have recently taken the step to support the Guardian financially – keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent. We couldn’t do this without readers like you.

With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we can set our own agenda and provide trustworthy journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence, offering a counterweight to the spread of misinformation. When it’s never mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour. It is reader support that makes our high-impact journalism possible and gives us the energy to keep doing journalism that matters.

Unlike many others, Guardian journalism is available for everyone to read, regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality.

We aim to offer readers a comprehensive, international perspective on critical events shaping our world. We are committed to upholding our reputation for urgent, powerful reporting on the climate emergency, and made the decision to reject advertising from fossil fuel companies, divest from the oil and gas industries, and set a course to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future.

Support the Guardian from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute.


Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal
Show more
More on this story

Novak Djokovic faces fine or prison for breaking isolation while Covid positive

Novak Djokovic faces fine or prison for breaking isolation while Covid positive

China battles Omicron outbreak weeks before Winter Olympics

China battles Omicron outbreak weeks before Winter Olympics

Tory peer to lead boycott of Coca-Cola over role in Beijing Winter Olympics

Tory peer to lead boycott of Coca-Cola over role in Beijing Winter Olympics

Omicron could infect 50% of Europeans in next two months, says WHO

Omicron could infect 50% of Europeans in next two months, says WHO

Germany reports record number of daily Covid cases

Germany reports record number of daily Covid cases

Evergrande: ‘Everyone bet on inexorably rising Chinese property prices’

Evergrande: ‘Everyone bet on inexorably rising Chinese property prices’
Show more
Headlines

Omicron’s effects ricochet across US

Omicron’s effects ricochet across US

Duke fails in bid to dismiss US sexual abuse lawsuit

Duke fails in bid to dismiss US sexual abuse lawsuit

Manchin and Sinema condemned for opposing filibuster reform urged by Biden

Manchin and Sinema condemned for opposing filibuster reform urged by Biden

Scottish Tory leader calls for PM to resign over No 10 lockdown party

Scottish Tory leader calls for PM to resign over No 10 lockdown party
Show more
most viewed

Prince Andrew fails in bid to dismiss US sexual abuse lawsuit

Prince Andrew fails in bid to dismiss US sexual abuse lawsuit

My wife had long Covid and killed herself. We must help others who are suffering

Nick Güthe
My wife had long Covid and killed herself. We must help others who are suffering

‘He’s gone. OK’: Trump hangs up on NPR after host presses him on election lies

‘He’s gone. OK’: Trump hangs up on NPR after host presses him on election lies

Manchin and Sinema condemned for opposing filibuster reform urged by Biden – live

Manchin and Sinema condemned for opposing filibuster reform urged by Biden – live

Trump’s new Manhattan bar: serving rip-off drinks and a side of narcissism

Trump’s new Manhattan bar: serving rip-off drinks and a side of narcissism
Show more
News extra

West Virginians scramble to get by after senator kills child tax credits

West Virginians scramble to get by after senator kills child tax credits

Highest inflation in 40 years signals end of ultra-cheap money

Highest inflation in 40 years signals end of ultra-cheap money

The fight to oust Louis DeJoy and ‘disastrous’ austerity plan

The fight to oust Louis DeJoy and ‘disastrous’ austerity plan

Lawsuit is devastating blow for duke – and the royal family

Lawsuit is devastating blow for duke – and the royal family
Spotlight

Alarm at rise of illegal pot farms

Alarm at rise of illegal pot farms

The smash hit TV show that exposed a cultural divide

The smash hit TV show that exposed a cultural divide

Serving rip-off drinks and a side of narcissism

Serving rip-off drinks and a side of narcissism

Packers and Titans on Super Bowl collision course

Packers and Titans on Super Bowl collision course
Coronavirus

UK reports nearly 400 virus-linked deaths for second day; Germany chancellor calls for mandatory jabs

UK reports nearly 400 virus-linked deaths for second day; Germany chancellor calls for mandatory jabs

Quebec health tax for unvaccinated residents prompts fierce Covid debate

Quebec health tax for unvaccinated residents prompts fierce Covid debate

Covid-sniffing dogs help scientists – and Metallica – spot infection

Covid-sniffing dogs help scientists – and Metallica – spot infection

Omicron dims optimism as South America enters pandemic’s third year

Omicron dims optimism as South America enters pandemic’s third year