👵👴 October 29 marks the Double Ninth Festival, a traditional Chinese lunar holiday that reminds everyone to show respect and care for older generations. In a rapidly aging society, ensuring seniors lead happy, healthy lives is a growing priority on the Chinese mainland.
President Xi Jinping often stops by nursing homes and community centers during his visits, chatting with residents and listening to their stories. Back in November 2018, during a visit to a community elderly nursery center in Shanghai, he shared a simple wish: “As society ages, it is our common hope that elderly people enjoy a happy, healthy, and long life.” ❤️
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Chinese mainland has launched major reforms and guidelines to build a respectful, caring system for seniors. By the end of 2024, more than 310 million people were aged 60 and above (22% of the population), including around 220 million aged 65 or older (15.6%). These numbers show why action is urgent.
Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan revealed that a national basic elderly-care service system is now in place, with top-level design plans for ongoing reform. A “Chinese-style” elder-care network is taking shape, featuring 406,000 institutions and facilities offering nearly 8 million beds. Notably, nursing-care beds grew from 48% of total beds in 2020 to 65.7% in 2024. 🏥
On-the-ground initiatives include adapting 2.24 million homes to support seniors with special needs, setting up 500 model community-based care networks, and creating nearly 3,000 age-friendly neighborhoods. Plus, 86,000 senior meal centers now serve over 3 million people every day.
Beyond services, the “silver economy” is booming. Valued at about 7 trillion yuan today, it’s projected to hit nearly 30 trillion yuan by 2035. This growth presents big opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators ready to serve an ever-growing senior market. 💼📈
As the Double Ninth Festival calls us to honor our elders, China’s comprehensive push shows how care, policy, and market forces can come together to build a happier and more secure future for seniors.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
