Expectations of love and marriage in relationships between Chinese women and Western men in urban China

This study presents a qualitative exploration of the experiences of intercultural couples (Chinese women and western men) in urban China. It is intended to offer a new perspective on intercultural relationships in China by emphasizing and analyzing issues that emerge from the participants' narratives. Through the use of multiple in-depth online and email interviews, ten participants (five Chinese women and five western men) contributed narrative accounts of their experiences. Drawing on grounded theory for an analysis of these narrative accounts, the study focuses on two primary themes: myths and attractiveness. While participants' narratives challenge existing dominant perceptions of intercultural relationships in China, their contradictions also reveal the complexities of the issue and reflect the necessity of exploring intercultural relationships from different perspectives. Implications for study in this area and recommendations for further research are provided.