A woman in central China has drawn widespread criticism after she demanded a $4,200 &ldquo;hugging fee&rdquo; from her ex-fiance following the abrupt cancellation of their wedding.
The couple, from Pingdingshan in Henan province, became engaged in January after meeting through a matchmaker last year. Their wedding had been scheduled for November, and pre-wedding photographs were taken as customary. The groom&rsquo;s family had even booked a hotel and informed relatives about the upcoming marriage.
However, the woman suddenly called off the wedding, reportedly because she considered her fianc&eacute; &ldquo;too honest&rdquo; and believed his income was insufficient. While she initially agreed to return the betrothal gift of 200,000 yuan (about $28,000), she insisted on keeping 30,000 yuan (around $4,200) as compensation for &ldquo;hugging&rdquo; during pre-wedding photo sessions.
The matchmaker, surnamed Wan, told local media that the &ldquo;hug&rdquo; had only occurred because the photographer instructed the couple to pose that way. She criticized the woman and her family as being &ldquo;the most picky&rdquo; she had encountered in over a decade of arranging matches, calling the fee demand &ldquo;immoral.&rdquo;
After negotiations, both families reached an agreement in which the woman returned 170,500 yuan ($24,000) to the man.
The incident highlights the traditional practice of betrothal gifts in China, where a groom&rsquo;s family presents a monetary or material offering to the bride&rsquo;s family as a gesture of goodwill. Gifts can range from 100,000 to 500,000 yuan ($14,000&ndash;$70,000), often placing considerable financial pressure on the groom&rsquo;s family. In rural areas, these amounts tend to be higher due to gender imbalances that make it more difficult for men to find spouses.
This is not an isolated case. Last year, in Hunan province, a man took a woman and her father to court after they refused to return a betrothal gift of 230,000 yuan ($32,000). Despite a court order to repay the money within 15 days, the family failed to comply, prompting the man to seek public attention to recover his funds.

Chinese Woman Demands $4,200 “Hugging Fee”

Ex-fiance cancels wedding; woman keeps $4,200 from betrothal gift sparking outrage online

Chinese Woman Demands $4,200 “Hugging Fee”

Ex-fiance cancels wedding; woman keeps $4,200 from betrothal gift sparking outrage online

October 12, 2025 | 20:14 IST