A Look Back at Love & Dating in DNC Season 2
The Spring Festival is here and Date Night China has had an incredible season 2 with amazing guests, a new guest host, many insightful articles and stories, and some fun and sexy events.
We thought it was fitting to start our Spring Festival by taking stock of what we’ve enjoyed from season 2, what we’ve learned, and for what we are grateful. However, that last part is a no-brainer - we’re extremely grateful for you, the reader!
Celebrate the end of Season 2 with us at our Date Night China Chinese New Year Party Feb. 16th!
When we started all this back in 2019, we didn’t realize how much DNC would grow thanks to the love and support from the Beijing community, and in turn, how that community would help us find a larger community in places like Shanghai and Guangzhou and other places in China.
When we started, we were 3 hosts in a kitchen, getting drunk and sharing some cringe-worthy, often hilarious, borderline tragic stories about our love lives. Now, we’ve become a beacon for cringe-worthy, often hilarious and borderline tragic stories from all over China! But it wouldn’t be fair to exclude the thoughtful, deep and emotional encouraging stories from people who have loved and lost in China and still have the courage to love again.
So let’s recap some of the guests and topics we had this season.
Making Your Love List
In season 2 of the podcast we met Zach, a romantic soul who’s looking for love but safeguarding his own wellbeing with his very own “love list”: 19 non-negotiable check points that he’s looking for in a partner i.e. They must enjoy hugs, have a great sense a humor, don't smoke, have a career goal, honesty… the list, well, goes on till we get to 19.
We hope this list got you thinking about when you meet someone new. Do you also have a list like Zach so you can make sure you’re wellbeing is prioritized?
Sometimes, we can look for love in the wrong places and worst still, we settle for someone because it can feel easier. Zach reminded us that self-love is vital to a happy start of a new relationship.
Interracial Dating
In Episode 5 we met Mark, whose experience being in an interracial couple in China was simultaneously a safe haven and a trial for him and his boyfriend.
China was a safe haven because their mother countries would have brought up racial, religious, and societal tensions if they decided to build a life there. But China was also a trial in it's own way, being judged and having “friends” pass their own verdict on who they should love and whether it was “right” in their eyes.
Mark opened up about the issues surrounding love and race in China and it received such a great response from our listeners - so thank you! Mark also revealed some underground kinks in China… but you’ll have to listen to season 2 episode 5 to hear all about that!
Read more: What It's Like Being an Interracial Couple in Beijing
All Guys and All Girls Talk
We had an all-guy and all-girl episode. For the guys, we talked about dating, dick pics, and thoughts on what women do right and wrong with guys. For the girls, we talked about beauty standards for female expat women in China. You don’t win any prizes for guessing which episode was more sophisticated.
But again, the community response for these episodes, especially episode 7, the all-girl episode, was incredible! Our research for the episode and the responses before the episode and feedback afterwards was so eye-opening and we hope it gave voice to many common experiences from all the beautiful (inside and out) expats who grace this wonderfully weird and exciting country.
Read more from Female Expats about their experiences dating in China: Expat Women Share About Beauty Standards & Dating in China
Ethical Non-Monogamy
In Episode 8 we spoke about ethical non-monogamy, and our guest took us on a bit of an anthropological stroll around some fascinating issues around faithfulness, trust, desire and communication. Osaka, our guest, questioned understood norms such as “monogamy” and we unpicked how love is seen in the media consume and the conversations we have.
Read more: 3 Misconceptions About Non-Monogamy
A Couple Who's Been Together 11 Years
In Episode 10 we had the real pleasure of meeting a couple who have been together for 11 years. They met and married in China and in this episode, they talk about the little things that make a relationship work, as well as how you can overcome infidelity! For anyone looking for the answer to a long and happy relationship, this episode is a must!
Read more: 12 Years Together: 12 Of Our Favorite Date Spots in Beijing
Date Night China Events
As for our events - well… what an exciting rollercoaster it has been. We’ve had some intimate mixer events, our first LGBTQ mixer, our first speed dating event, our first secret cinema date night and our first storytelling event! This season has been full of firsts for us… we hope it was good for you too. ;)
But now, it’s time for the DNC team to take stock and really reflect on what’s made the relationship with you all so rewarding and exciting for us this season. We also want to build on this foundation and make our podcast, articles and events more informative, more seductive, and a true reflection of what it means to love in one of the most exciting countries in the world!
So from all of us at Date Night China, we love you and we thank you for being a part of our community. It means the world to us that you come and share your love lives with us and where we can, help you along the way!
So until next season, happy dating!
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About Date Night China
Date Night China is a digital media platform and events organization based in Beijing that aims to build a positive community and share stories about relationships and dating in China. Follow our Wechat Account for the latest articles, new podcast episodes, and upcoming events.