This article introduces a multi-faceted approach to the study of asexuality that takes seriously the diverse terrain whence asexuality emerges and takes shape in China today. Intense globalization has facilitated connections between Chinese asexuals and their counterparts in other countries. The surge of dating agencies and websites for asexual marriage in China calls for attention to asexuals’ imaginings of a happy life that reflect not so much a globalized asexual discourse as the cultural resources that are available in China. Notions such as platonic love, celibacy, the DINK (double income, no kids) family and the big family help Chinese asexuals rewrite marriage and family scripts to accommodate their preferences. Yet, the pursuit of a happy marriage, as well as the exploration of asexual identity, are governed by a medical regime that regulates the (a)sexual lives of Chinese individuals.
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