Man mums in China earn Rs 600 for a 5-minute hug; who are they and what’s behind this surprising new trend

Amid rising stress and emotional detachment in hyper-connected lives, a surprising trend is emerging in China where young women are paying for five-minute hugs from men known as “man mums.

” Once defined by muscular builds, these men are now chosen for traits like kindness, patience, and warmth. The service, typically arranged via chat apps and carried out in public places, offers a safe, non-romantic form of emotional relief. Many women say that paying for the hug ensures clear boundaries and respectful interaction. As loneliness rises, this unusual form of comfort is gaining popularity on Chinese social media as a new coping ritual.

China’s growing trend of ‘man mums’ earning Rs 600 per hug

The cost of a hug is from 20 to 50 yuan (approximately Rs 200 to Rs 600) for a five-minute session. The majority of the interactions are organized on social media or chat programs, and the hugs are usually given in a public setting like a mall, subway area, or a park to ensure safety and transparency.Most importantly, paying for the hug puts women at ease. An exchange of money guarantees that boundaries are well understood and respected.

With money on the table, the experience becomes formalized and professional rather than emotionally confusing. It lessens the risk of mishap or unwanted advances. China's younger generation is increasingly subjected to work pressure, study stress, and body image anxiety.

In such a competitive climate, many are unable to emotionally open up to family members or friends. This is where the "man mum" steps in as an unjudging, temporary figure of emotional anchorage.According to the South China Morning Post, one of the men, Zhou, who has given 34 hugs till now, has made more than 1,758 yuan (Rs 21,000). Though it's not a full-time job for him, he appreciates the good emotional effect his service brings to women overwhelmed by body anxiety or stress from work. Another man said hugging strangers has helped him build confidence and self-worth. The idea that his presence can improve someone’s emotional state gives him a sense of purpose.

Who are 'man mums'

The term "man mum" was initially used to depict muscular, physically strong men symbolic of physical security. Nonetheless, as the trend goes on, the standards for selecting a man mum have changed. Today, women value emotional qualities like patience, kindness, and composure, coupled with physical comfort and beauty. These gentlemen are not providing romance or therapy. Rather, they are offering a platonic, consensual physical contact—a hug.

The intent is emotional comfort, not intimacy or attraction.

Why China’s youth are turning to ‘man mums’

A struggling female student in particular approached a kind and physically capable man specifically looking for a hug. She remembered that being hugged as a child made her feel secure and hoped to recapture that feeling of security in the midst of thesis-induced anxiety.According to the reports, there was another young woman, known as Fox, who encountered her preferred "man mum" while in a subway station.

She had brought him coffee and a book as a present, then hugged him briefly. They went on to discuss exams, school, and interests casually afterward. Fox commented: "What made me happier than the hug was the warmth from a stranger."Such moments, brief as they are, bring emotional validation that other young people do not have in their daily existence.

What China's 'man mums' reveal about modern loneliness

This is not merely about hugging, it's about emotional needs in an increasingly isolated world.

As humans become lonelier in the face of digital hyperconnectivity, the fundamental human need for touch, reassurance, and compassion is often left unfulfilled.Some women see this trend as a safe space for vulnerability. Since both parties understand the scope of the interaction beforehand, it avoids complications and fosters mutual respect. It’s an unusual but telling symptom of modern life: we're craving closeness in a world that often feels distant.Although the concept might strike some as strange or even laughable, the phenomenon of "man mums" bares a deeper cultural reality: individuals, particularly young women, are discovering innovative ways to fulfill unmet emotional demands. Within the regulated, consensual terrain of an embrace lasting five minutes, many discover calm, solace, and temporary respite. Whether or not this is a niche fad or continues to spread, it illustrates how intimacy and emotional support are changing in the rapid-paced, high-stress world of today.Also Read | She 'died' for 24 minutes! What this 50-year-old Spanish woman saw afterlife will shock you