Money won’t buy you love: the Chinese-Ukrainian couple who rejected the traditional ‘bride price’


A Chinese man and his Ukrainian bride have raised eyebrows in his rural hometown by shunning the tradition of paying a “bride price”.

He Pengwei, from rural Yangcheng county, northwestern Shanxi province, and Inesa, from Ukraine, decided to get married after meeting in Beijing, dating for one year and falling in love. 

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Regional

Chinese smart glasses firms eye overseas conquest
India says mandatory phone app can be deleted after backlash
120,000 home cameras were hacked for sexual videos, South Korean police say
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Dec 01, 2025)
Hong Kong govt pledges free housing for Tai Po victims until homes are rebuilt
Hong Kong leader John Lee pays tribute to firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze
Beer giant Asahi not engaging with hackers after cyberattack
What are Hong Kong Legco election candidates prioritising in their manifestos?
Livestream giant Twitch to ban under-16s in Australia
World first: AI tells humans how to build a high-speed rail tunnel in China

Others Also Read