According to Chinese news agencies, a 20-year-old from China's Guangdong province is seeking a partner for his 45-year-old mother, and has taken his search for a prospective step-father online.

The 'advertisement' for a marriage partner has created a buzz on the Internet, with most netizens showing their support for the young man's effort. They also expressed their surprise at the youthfulness and beauty of his mother, Madam Lee, through photographs that accompanied the post.

In the ad posted on the Internet, the young man described how his mum experienced a "bad marriage", which ended when he was still a toddler.

However, she has a small circle of friends, and has not had the time to socialise much due to the years spent struggling to provide for the both of them.

In the article, which appeared in the Shin Min Daily, the man said he always felt sad seeing his mother cut a lonely figure all these years, and resolved to do something about it.

Criteria for a marriage partner

He said: "I discussed it with my mother and she said was open to the idea of starting a friendship with interested parties online. As for what happens next, she would leave it up to fate."

His mum's requirements in a prospective partner? He should be between 48 to 60 years of age and at least 175cm tall. He should also be "pleasant-looking, healthy, humorous and compassionate, generous and attentive".

Other important criteria also include being financially stable, and not indulging in any "unhealthy hobbies".

According to Madam Lee, the financial strain of being the sole provider in the family led to her son going out to work at the age of 17 in order to help out the family's finances.

Hence, she hopes her future partner will be able to lighten their burden financially.

Mother resembles ex-HK actress 

Most netizens have responded favourably to the advertisement. They praised Madam Lee's beauty from the photographs posted, and offered their well-wishes.

One netizen said: "Your mum is quite beautiful, I hope she finds happiness." Another even commented that she looked like ex-Hong Kong actress and spokesperson for a slimming centre, Christy Chung.  

Yet others have praised her son for his thoughtfulness.

Madam Lee described her son as a gentle and caring boy who had tried to persuade her numerous times to agree to his proposal.

Some express their doubts

However, there are also some who are suspicious of the authenticity of the photographs, commenting that Madam Lee looked "too pretty".

They suspect the pictures were not taken recently, and expressed their opinion that interested parties should "not harbour too high hopes".

To this accusation, Madam Lee does not deny that some pictures were indeed taken a few years ago. She also added that many interested individuals have come forward since, but she has yet to find the 'right' one.