Valentine’s Day, as we all know, is a western holiday reminiscent of Valentine, but a little known fact is that nothing was actually known about Valentine, it was simply the name given to represent fourteen holy martyrs of ancient Rome. The first time it was celebrated as a feast was in 496 AD, and it was only in 1493 that the classic story of a man who secretly married Christians emerged.

Be that as it may, it doesn’t stop people from celebrating it, not just in the Western world, but also in China. I can’t say for sure when mainland Chinese people started celebrating Valentine’s Day, as it had already taken hold when I came here in 2002, but what I can say is that at least as far as Chinese girls are concerned, they are just as important. obsessed with vacations like western women are.

Dating Chinese girls on Valentine’s Day in China

Apart from some differences with customs that I will mention later, Valentine’s Day follows the same line as in most Western countries. Couples meet during the day and, when possible, spend the whole day together; otherwise, they will meet up in the evening and hopefully go for a romantic meal.

In China, you face the same problem as in this celebration in all other countries, that of all overbooked restaurants! It really was a big surprise for me when I first came across this in China. I had imagined that it would be very easy to find a decent restaurant that I could take my Chinese girlfriend to. However, unless you wanted to take her to a very ordinary local restaurant, or McDonald’s (there are many McDonald’s in China), it was almost impossible to find a restaurant with a free table.

Booking in advance would be a good idea.

What to give your Chinese girlfriend on Valentine’s Day

There is a really interesting cultural difference about this day in China, and it is this: Valentine’s Day, Chinese girls give chocolate to her boyfriend. Finally, there are some benefits for men on Valentine’s Day! Personally, I love chocolate, and when I first discovered this cultural difference I was over the moon, whatever, a little confused as to why Chinese women gave men chocolate.

I never found out why, as no one in China seems to know. Also, men don’t have to give their girlfriend Valentine’s cards, although it must be said, any Chinese girl would be very happy to receive one.

A man is simply supposed to give his girlfriend some roses and take her out for lunch that day. Some Chinese girls can expect to receive some other kind of gift, but it’s really not that necessary, unless you really want to.

Another popular Valentine’s Day gift that guys give their girlfriend is stuffed animals. I should add, if your Chinese girlfriend suggests that jewelry is a ‘traditional’ gift on Valentine’s Day in China, you may be being overly optimistic, or that, or you’ve watched too many Western romantic movies and totally got the wrong idea.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your Chinese girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, you should be pretty sure as long as you make it romantic. But if she doesn’t buy you chocolate, I suggest you complain a bit as it is by far the biggest benefit any man has in the world on Valentine’s Day.