Given the gender imbalance in China, it is hard to imagine men can be overly picky.

But they often are, like Jin from Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. Yet the 25-year-old, who is an only child himself, is not obsessed with looks, hair length, age, pedigree - or other qualities commonly desired.

Jin only wants his bride-to-be to be an only child.

He made the demand when signing up at a match-making agency as it means he and his wife could, under the family planning policies, have two children.

And it seems Jin is not alone, according to match-making agencies in the city. Many other male clients are now looking for the same requirement in prospective wives.

Forget the children, show me the money, would-be groom says.

A university student surnamed Luo - who claims to be handsome and hardworking, with a strong desire to carve out his own business - is another who wants to get married and has a special request.

Luo, who studies in Zhejiang Province, wants at least 10 million yuan from his wife's family, to invest in business.

And Luo says it is not a problem if his wife is up to eight years his senior, reports the Youth Times.

His demands come after the paper ran a story about a big number of single ladies from rich families in the city of Xiaoshan, which is in the province's north area.

(Xinhua/China Daily January 7, 2005)