Finding love amid crowds of furniture shoppers and the smell of Swedish meatballs might seem unlikely, but for Shanghai’s elderly, Ikea is the place to search for Mr. or Mrs. So last week, during the seven-day national holiday, when hordes of old people who had not purchased food occupied seats and blocked walkways, the store introduced a strict “no-food, no seat” policy. But for the many Chinese who remain unconvinced by Western tastes in home decor, it has other attractions apart from Scandinavian furnishings. “I guess few people know just how lonely old people are,” said a retired woman named as Xu by a Shanghai news website. I talk with friends, but some elderly do meet people who become lovers.”Additional reporting by Christine Wei

Source: National Post October 14, 2016 14:59 UTC