Latest news with #PastastheWind
Mint
a day ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Porsche, hugs and a long drive: How rides with strangers in luxury cars are healing broken hearts
A new trend called 'city ride' is becoming popular among young women in Chinese cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou and Xiamen. For 99 yuan (around ₹ 1,200), women can enjoy evening car rides with fit, attractive young men in luxury cars. These men, nicknamed 'man bodhisattvas', are usually university students from wealthy families. They drive cars like Ferraris, Porsches and Rolls-Royces in their free time. One such man, known online as 'Past as the Wind', is a tall postgraduate student who offers rides in his Porsche for 88 yuan ( ₹ 1,050). He even acts like a friend, boyfriend, or butler during the ride. His booking group has nearly 400 members, according to the South China Morning Post. Women enjoy the smooth ride, the car's pleasant smell and his friendly nature. The trend is seen as a mix of relaxation and luxury after a long workday. It offers a unique and social way to unwind within city limits. In Wuhan, a 24-year-old man nicknamed 'Lemon Can' offers Ferrari rides for just 99 yuan for 30 minutes. A racing enthusiast, he says people can enjoy the thrill of the car and also share their feelings about stress or relationships during the ride. Wang, a graduate from Fujian, is relatively new to this. He has served six women so far, mostly for peaceful evening drives by the sea. One woman cried for half an hour after a breakup and thanked him with a hug. 'I believe a lot of people need this kind of support from strangers. A car can be a comforting space,' SCMP quoted Wang as saying. While some worry about safety, as drivers might learn women's addresses, Wang assures that bookings are made through a ride-hailing app, which tracks every journey. He plans to join his family business soon but is using this time to practise driving and connect with others. For him, the car is not just for speed, but also a place for comfort and support. One of Wang's clients has told the publication that she now looks forward to finishing work to have fun new city ride with a friendly driver in a luxury car. Around the world, there have been growing trends that allow people to spend emotional moments with strangers in private. Professional cuddling, popular in other countries, is slowly gaining attention in India after COVID-19. Many lonely people in big cities find comfort in cuddles. Global sites like Cuddlist lead this trend, but India has few such services, like CuddleBuddy and Jaadu Ki Jhappi. A 2024 survey shows that 53% of urban Indians face daily stress, and 25% feel low for weeks.
The Star
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Star
China women pay US$14 to relax with charming men who take them on luxury car rides
Young women in southern China are spending 99 yuan (US$14) to relax with fit, handsome men who treat them to luxury car rides after work. According to the mainland media outlet Vista Hydrogen Business, a new trend called 'city ride' is gaining traction in cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xiamen. This service features so-called 'man bodhisattvas,' who provide companionship rides in expensive vehicles. These men are often affluent university students who use their families' luxury cars during their free time to offer rides to female passengers. Active on social media and confident in showcasing their physiques, they have earned the nickname 'man bodhisattvas' due to their charm and perceived generosity. Popular vehicles include Porsches, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces, while Mercedes-Benz and BMWs serve as more budget-friendly alternatives. A man known online as 'Past as the Wind' recently shared that he is a 180cm tall postgraduate student and a former entrepreneur. He posted gym selfies and photos with his prized Porsche Cayenne, offering rides for 88 yuan each. He mentioned that he can take on the role of a big brother, boyfriend, or personal butler during the ride, which is restricted to trips within the city. He has formed a booking group with roughly 400 members, where clients commend the car, pleasant scent, smooth driving, and his relaxed, sociable demeanour. Another man from Wuhan, known as 'Lemon Can,' provides Ferrari rides for 99 yuan per half-hour. Describing himself as an optimistic racing enthusiast, he expresses his willingness to discuss work stress or relationship issues during the ride. 'You can also experience the powerful acceleration and enjoy the roar of the engine,' the 24-year-old shared. Wang, a university graduate from Fujian province in southeastern China, stated he has offered rides to six women so far, mostly after work, frequently taking them on scenic coastal drives. 'Many of them open up about their relationships, and I help them understand their boyfriends' behaviours,' he explained. One woman, heartbroken after a break-up due to infidelity, cried in his car for half an hour. She thanked him afterwards and gave him a polite hug. 'I believe a lot of people need this kind of support from strangers. A car can be a comforting space,' Wang remarked. He plans to take over his family's business by the end of the year, but for now, he is using this time to practise driving and meet new people. However, some netizens have expressed safety concerns, noting that drivers could learn the home addresses of women living alone. Wang reassured that he asks clients to book through a ride-hailing app, ensuring that each trip is tracked and monitored. One of Wang's clients shared that this new form of city ride has made her anticipate the end of the workday. 'It was my first time riding in a million-yuan car! The driver was humorous, and I often shared office gossip with him,' she said. Previous reports have indicated that some stressed-out women in China are also paying for emotional support from empathetic men known as 'man mums,' offering five-minute hugs for 50 yuan (US$7). An online observer noted that in an era of fragmented social lives and increasing loneliness, it is understandable that many individuals are willing to pay for brief emotional comfort. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
