Yes, cohabitation before marriage does occur in China, particularly under certain conditions and in specific regions.
Cohabitation Trends in China
While traditional norms historically emphasized marriage as the basis for couples living together, societal changes and evolving attitudes are influencing relationship practices in China. Cohabitation prior to formal marriage is becoming a more visible phenomenon, although its prevalence and acceptance can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographic location and engagement status.
Based on research, it is evident that premarital cohabitation is a reality for some couples in China. For instance, in rural areas of China, it has become common for adult women and men to cohabit prior to marriage, provided that they have already become engaged (Zheng et al., 2001). This indicates that while not necessarily universal across the entire country or for all relationship stages, living together before the wedding is indeed a practice that exists and is becoming more frequent in certain contexts, especially once a commitment like engagement has been made.
This trend reflects broader shifts in social norms and relationship dynamics within the country.
