A group of rich men meet with candidates at a matchmaking party in Wuhai, capital city of Hubei Province.(Source: Shanghai Daily)

by Yao Minji

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Lots of girls are so determined to wed rich men that well-off guys are wary to marry. Special VIP matchmakers cater to these men who have special requirements beyond a pretty face, as Yao Minji finds out for the upcoming Chinese Valentine's Day.

Frank Chen, chairman of a Shanghai-based investment company, usually goes to work in his tailor-made suit and customized Jaguar XJ.

The 32-year-old businessman has been pushed by his parents to find a wife since he broke up with a girlfriend three years ago. He has since then been on a few blind dates introduced by mutual acquaintances.

He specifically asked the information about his personal wealth be withheld from the women, preferring to be described as a "well-off white-collar professional who's ready to settle down and start a family."

For those blind dates, he switches to polo shirts and drives a Volvo S60 to "look elite but not overloaded with money."

Chen, like many other rich men looking for wives, is worried about running into a gold digger.

"I already have beautiful girls around me and I like them, but I won't marry them. I'm looking for a good woman, good wife and good mother to my children," he tells Shanghai Daily, on condition that his full Chinese name and other details not be disclosed.

Chen, who comes from a wealthy family, wanted to make his own money and didn't depend on his parents when he started out after university. When his business wasn't doing well and he didn't plan to buy a house, his girlfriend broke up with him. She is sorry now and tried to get back together four times. But Chen learned his lesson.

Now he's wary of gold diggers.

His requirements - good woman, good wife, good mother - are not too different from those of other rich men, according to Wendy Dai, senior consultant at China Entrepreneurs' Club for Singles, a high-end matchmaking company targeting rich men.

The annual membership fee for this newly founded Guangzhou-based company is 200,000 yuan (US$31,410). To qualify, a candidate must be single, over 30 and have personal assets in excess of 100 million yuan or he must be chairman of a large enterprise.