According to Chinese media Global Times, British news agency Reuters recently published an article stating that lonely consumers in China are supporting a $7.4 billion (approx. 1.184 trillion yen) "companionship economy," from mountain climbing to hotpot restaurant meals. The article first touched upon the popularity of services at Mount Tai, one of China's most famous peaks, where guides accompany hikers up stone steps or carry their luggage on their behalf, and reported that in China, paid companionship services are emerging not only for mountain climbing, but also for running, sightseeing, and even hotpot restaurant meals. It also reported that many of those providing these services are students or young gig workers, and while there is no official data on the size of the companionship economy, it is estimated to reach approximately 50 billion yuan (approx. $7.4 billion) in 2025, and this trend reflects broader changes in China's urban lifestyles and service economy. According to the article, researchers and media analyze that the rise of the companionship economy is due to the growing demand among young people, who live far from family ties and are subjected to long working hours, for "emotional consumption," which emphasizes emotional satisfaction. This coincides with an increasing number of young people opting for flexible working styles, with the number of flexible workers exceeding 200 million. According to Chen Wenxin, who launched a hiking companionship service company based in Shandong Province, where Mount Tai is located, in 2022, the staff, which initially numbered less than 10, grew to 370 due to rising demand. A day-trip mountain climbing companionship service to Mount Tai is offered for 800 yuan (approx. 18,400 yen). The article quoted psychotherapist Sami Wong as saying, "The appeal of paid companionship services lies in gaining certainty in situations that inherently involve significant effort and risk. Getting to know others requires emotional effort and investment, and the results are often highly uncertain, which can easily lead to anxiety. Paid companionship services help avoid the frustration of being rejected by others."