China's 'loneliness industry' offers companionship as social ties change

China's growing urban population and the movement of university graduates away from family support networks have contributed to isolation in cities, creating demand for paid companionship services, according to the information provided.

The emerging "loneliness industry" was valued at approximately $7.4 billion in 2025 by securities firm Sinolink, says the BBC.

The services range from assistance for elderly people living alone to medical escorts for young professionals and companions for leisure activities. They offer customers support without the social obligations that can accompany traditional friendships.

Teresa Kuan, an associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said paid companionship creates a more predictable relationship between customers and service providers.

"If there is a companion you have paid for, the relationship is not exactly equal. It is a service relationship, so you don't have to deal with the unpredictability of a standard relationship... In a service relationship, you have a better idea of what to expect."

Paid care for elderly people living alone

For some elderly people, delivery workers and other service providers have become surrogate family members, described as "community children".

Yang, a 91-year-old woman living alone on the outskirts of Beijing, experienced depression and isolation after her husband died. She also suffers from glaucoma and failing eyesight.

"The biggest difficulty really was the loneliness. Sometimes, if I wanted to talk to someone I'd talk to the TV."

Her isolation became so difficult that she asked her son about voluntary euthanasia.

"I asked my son about it but he told me it was banned. I told him that if it ever becomes legal I want to do it – I didn't want to live any longer."

Her circumstances improved after a delivery team led by Wang Yingwei began visiting twice a day. The team brought hot meals, repaired household appliances and installed filtered water tanks.

"It's good to have someone around when you need it, someone you can share your innermost thoughts with... I did struggle with loneliness but that's been resolved now. I'm quite happy."

Wang, a former mobile phone salesman, started the business after his father-in-law entered a substandard nursing home. His service costs less than half the price of a full-time caregiver.

"We see ourselves as community children... It means putting yourself in the shoes of older people and carefully considering their needs."

He said the relationship often extends beyond practical assistance.

"The elderly treat us like their children, and we treat them like our own parents."

Zheng Ruizhi, 75, is another customer. She is recovering from an injury while her son lives two hours away. She said she trusted Wang and valued his help.

"I call you 'dear boy' because I am so fond of you. I genuinely like you from the bottom of my heart. I also admire and trust you. When you help me out, I don't have a single worry or fear."

Medical escorts offer support to young professionals

Paid companionship also serves younger people who move to major cities for work and may lack local support networks.

Liu Yanyan, 23, works as a medical escort, accompanying clients to hospitals, helping them navigate appointments and retrieving test results.

She said some young professionals preferred to pay for assistance rather than ask colleagues or acquaintances for help because of expectations of social reciprocity.

"Some of my customers are people in their 20s who came to Beijing to build a career. They might not have friends here or feel awkward asking colleagues to accompany them because of the concept of social reciprocity in Chinese culture... If I accompanied you to a doctor's appointment for free, you might feel obligated to buy me a meal or a movie ticket afterwards... So, they hire someone like me to accompany them to the hospital."

The service allows customers to receive practical support without feeling obliged to repay a personal favour.

Companionship for leisure and emotional support

Other businesses offer companionship to people seeking encouragement or relief from daily pressures.

Wang Zhoutao, a former soldier, runs a paid hiking companion service on Mount Huangshan. He provides company, takes photographs and encourages clients during their hikes.

"The pace of life is just too fast these days. People face pressure from work, relationships and family expectations... I think my clients are mostly people who feel a void in their relationships or have suffered a setback."

The range of services reflects how paid companionship can meet different needs, from practical assistance for elderly residents to support for young professionals and people seeking company during leisure activities.