In traditional Chinese there is a specific ceremony for the engagement process, some refer to it as the Bethroval Ceremony (nor sure of the spelling, Monterrey, pls give a break this time only).  If interested, Google for "engagement ceremony in China" for details.  It involves offering tea to the bride's parents, the dowry in cash inside the red envelope, selecting the wedding date, family dinner celebration, etc.

It is in effect, selaing a marriage contract to be executed at a later date.  It is taken so seriously here that many couples do live together afterwards waiting for the arrival of their auspicious date for celebrating the marriage.

Thanks Happy,

Follow-up: How is the dowry amount decided? How do you (foreign guys) feel about paying a dowry for your Chinese wife?

I w ould assume that often (not always) foreingers wil be subject to the "Lao Wai Special". I have seen my foreign and Chinese colleagues debate this, with some of the foreiigners calling it "buying a wife" my Chinese colleagues dnying that it is a purchase. I stay clear of that debate!

Ja, Ja, what many laowais do not know is that the "dowry" is not one way, but the bride and their family also (in traditional Chinese) must give "presents" to the groom.  Since I dislike walking into the unknown (maybe from Army days), I did search the engagement ceremony and found out many nice details not widely known.
The dowey is still common on first marriage ceremonies, but if the Lady is already divorced, or older if still single but living apart from her parents, the amount is "supposedly" reduced or eliminated.  The amount of money involved is often discussed and agreed between groom and bride.  Many yeras ago, it was set by matchmaker.  It is supposedly a monetary compensation for the loss of the daughter to the bride's parents and her services around the house.  Remember in China when a marriage occurs, the bride leaves her family and joints the groom's family.  I would say nowdays it will depend on the groom's financial situation, anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 Rmb I have heard.  I also know an Aussie that was taken, he paid 20,000 Rmb for a divorced lady with one child, and the marriage lasted only 2 years.

And what the groom gets ?.  A basket of fruits, bottles of liquor, and a few other small presents.
And if paying the dowry is repulsive to you, better be aware that after the marriage, the daughter still by Law is responsible for her parents after they retire.  THE DOWRY IS JUST THE BEGINING ( OR DOWNPAYMENT) OF A LONG SERIES OF "ECONOMIC" FUTURE PAYMENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER.

I proposed in a crowded restaurant and it wasn't really acknowledged by anyone around us. I was very nervous however. She was shocked...which surprized me as we have discussed marriage many, many times. I guess she had no preconcieved notion of what would happen on the actual day of the proposal.