Young lovers in Beijng are no longer satisfied with transmitting love letters and holding romantic candle dinners. Currently, their favorite love tokens are made by themselves, the DIY love tokens.
Some of them print the names or pictures of their sweethearts on T-shirts, mugs or even underwears, which is an easy and economical way to DIY their exclusive love tokens. Others make potteries, candles or chocolates together, but these usually require a little more complicated techniques and skills, and are also more expensive.
Nowadays, DIY love token workshops can be found on nearly all the major streets in Beijing. They do not only supply necessary materials and tools for lovers to make their own tokens, but also sell finished products.
Xixi loves this way of showing love to her boyfriend, thus she has printed their pictures on two underpants, one for herself, and the other for him as a birthday present. Her boyfriend must be deeply impressed when he gets the precious present.
Miss Li and her boyfriend made a print of their palms on the first anniversary of their courtship. "It's so romantic, and all my friends envy me," Miss Li beamed.
A college student majoring in economics said that love economy had already entered the DIY stage, as it would be the best and romantic way to show their unique and indispensable love towards each other. "The popularity and the high price of the service of these DIY love token workshops will sure become another growth point in the national economy," he added.
(China News Service August 24, 2006)
