Breaking Up Is Easy To Do

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Some Chinese are so spooked by the prospect of divorce that they avoid marriage altogether. Last year 8.23 million couples wed nationwide, 441,000 fewer than in 2004. Those that do get hitched aren't shy about specifying exactly what they want. "For young women in Shanghai, one of their main requirements in marriage is a man who has his own apartment, car and some savings," says marriage counselor Shu. But a fat bank account alone doesn't ensure a happy marriage. "In China today, materialism is being pursued at the expense of traditional values like love," frets Xia Xueluan, a sociologist at Peking University. "With conditions like these, I see the divorce rate climbing for several years to come." That's not the only sign that divorce has lost its exoticism. One of last year's hottest TV series highlighted the pitfalls of modern relationships. Its title? Divorce, Chinese Style.