Why do Chinese women (men) hold hands?

Chinese people will do anything to approach a foreigner:

Young or old, regional or migrant, male or female - there seems to be no restraint when it comes to approaching a foreigner. Especially a tall, blonde, big-boned female foreigner. While out, I've had my arm and other body parts touched, my hair tousled, my clothing tugged on, and people have shouted 'Hello' more often than I care to count. I have stopped traffic, literally. While standing at a street corner waiting to cross, more often than not traffic stops, car windows are rolled down and gape-mouthed stares are directed at me, resulting in angry honking from the vehicles behind the starer… until they get a load of what is being stared at. I know I am no raving beauty, nor am I particularly noteworthy in appearance other than my 6' height, but I am treated like a combination of royalty, beauty queen and freak of the day. Some days I'm used to it and shrug it off, other days it is nothing short of annoying.

The original piece:http://blog.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-1372409-16580.html