Lifestyle

Gong Yelong, a man in his early 30s, has opened China's first love bank. Located on Gulou Dongdajie in Beijing's Dongcheng District, the "Bank of Love" (Aiqing Yinhang in Chinese) offers a place where people can deposit keepsakes memorializing a relationship, along with providing various other love-related services.

"It's a pity to throw romantic mementos away, but keeping them at home may bring unnecessary pain to new lovers. I offer a place to deposit them and customers can come see them whenever they want," Gong explains.

The business

Private letters and documents are locked in the cabinets, but items like stuffed toys, cellphones, pens and computer games are displayed on shelves. Each has a note attached detailing their stories. A placard next to two unopened CDs reads, "I spent too much time on computer games and left no time to love her. She gave me two game CDs before she left, but I haven't played video games since."

Gong has received over 300 items since the bank and its website launched in December 2009. Customers need to sign a contract stipulating the length of storage and deposit fee, which ranges from 10 to 60 yuan ($1.52–$9.09) per month depending on size.

Six months ago, Wang Ting, 24, deposited a list of "relationship do's and don'ts" she had written with her ex-boyfriend. "It hurts to look at, but I don't want to throw it away," she says, explaining why she decided to bring the list to the bank. "What I stored is not just a piece of paper, but my bittersweet memory."

Sun Yuqing, 27, deposited a stuffed bear and a box of letters and photos. They remind her of past quarrels she had with her boyfriend. "I sealed up those unhappy memories. As time goes by, we will gradually forget them. Now we cherish the present and look forward to a better future," she says.

"Keeping keepsakes is meaningful and positive. People can draw lessons from [them]," comments Gong.

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