China's Companionship Economy: Paying for Friends

In China, a burgeoning "companionship economy" allows people to hire companions for activities such as hiking, running, and dining. Services on platforms like social media offer "emotional value," conversation, and practical help, transforming favors among friends into paid services.

The trend reflects significant shifts in Chinese urban lifestyles and the service sector. Growing demand for "emotional consumption" is fueled by young people living far from family, facing demanding work hours, and struggling to maintain social ties. This is exacerbated by prolonged youth unemployment, leading many graduates to flexible gig work.

Providers like Chen Wenxin, who founded a hiking companion company in Shandong, have seen rapid expansion. His team grew from under 10 to about 370 workers, charging substantial fees for services like daytime climbs on Mount Tai. Psychotherapist Sami Wong notes that paid companionship offers certainty and control, avoiding the anxiety and potential sting of rejection in uncertain social interactions.

Young individuals like Tang Junxing, a university student in Guilin, earn significant pocket money as travel companions. He highlights that clients, mostly women, seek emotional support and a smoother travel experience. The companionship economy, estimated to be worth around 500 billion yuan ($74 billion) in 2025, underscores a significant aspect of China's evolving social and economic landscape.