Video | How a Shanghai Ikea canteen became an elderly dating hotspot

Faced with empty nest syndrome and changing social structures as China’s population ages, many of Shanghai’s senior citizens have turned an Ikea canteen into an unlikely dating site.

A group of senior singles has been gathering weekly at the Swedish furniture giant’s Xuhui outlet in the city’s southwest. While some might be lucky enough to find a companion, for most, it’s simply a chance to ease their loneliness by being part of the crowd.