Pan Tianhong recently filmed a video, fulfilling a fan request to experience a renowned matchmaking corner in Hangzhou while adopting a humble persona.

For the experiment, he created a fabricated resume, presenting himself as a "local guy, divorced", with only a high school education. His profile stated he worked as a photographer, and his father was in the delivery sector, with plans to buy a house and car.

Pan Tianhong, 29, attends a matchmaking event in Hangzhou Park, 11/2025. Photo: World Journal.

Matchmakers immediately rejected his fabricated profile. "His education is too low", one stated directly. Another, discovering his divorced status, remarked, "So young and already divorced."

In reality, Pan Tianhong holds a Film degree from Kent University in the UK. He serves as CEO of Hangzhou Xingao Media, a company that generated over 100 million yuan (approximately 13.7 million USD) in 2024. His father is also the CEO of Yuantong, a major Chinese logistics conglomerate. The only accurate detail in Pan's fabricated profile was his divorced status.

Pan's video quickly gained widespread attention and ignited controversy. Many viewers believed the experiment exposed the harsh realities of the matchmaking market. "Reality is even crueler than movies", one comment noted.

However, numerous critics accused Pan Tianhong of "mocking the poor". They argued that matchmakers sought serious matches, while Pan's actions were merely for entertainment. "This behavior somewhat turns the hopelessness of ordinary people into a spectacle", a netizen commented.

Bao Nhien (World Journal)