Young people in Beijing attend the matchmaking party held in Ditan Park last Saturday Feb. 17, 2007.[Xinhua]

The ongoing Spring Festival holiday seems has given single young professionals a chance to think about something just as important as their career, namely: marriage.

The Beijing Times reports that over 2,000 people in Beijing on Monday took part in a matchmaking party held in Ditan Park, in the hope of finding a lifelong partner.

According to the format of 8 minute dating, the participants were divided into three groups according to their ages. People in different groups were required to introduce themselves first, and then to perform in various games, according to the terms either of the organizer or of other daters. With the initial activities are suggested by the organizers, those who have already found a spark have the right to investigate their own methods of contact.

Though not everyone can find love though just one meeting, most think that it has offered them a chance to extend their social involvement and to meet more people from different backgrounds.

The Ditan matchmaking party is held from February 17 to February 24, the traditional Lunar New Year holiday for most Chinese people. Single people above 18 years old, and holding a college degree or above, can take part in the party, with the theme of taking love seriously.