In recent years, the elderly in China, known as the “silver-haired generation,” are actively exploring diverse lifestyles and seeking self-actualization and emotional satisfaction.
Among them is He Jiuxian, a 63-year-old from southwestern China's Yunnan province. International professional boxing matches were introduced there relatively early in China.
Through a chance encounter, he joined a group of young boxers and began learning boxing. Over the past five years, her hospital visits have decreased significantly and she and her team travel to games around the world. This year saw her first amateur boxing exhibition match.
Gai Xian learns boxing in Yunnan province in southwestern China on March 20, 2024 (China News Agency/Liu Lanyang)
Yue Xiaofeng, a gym salesperson in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, has noticed that her main clientele between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays are elderly people. Her favorite activities include yoga, dance, and personal training classes.
Older people also enrich their lives through hobbies and interests. At 78 years old, Zhang Jiaming plays the drums despite his age.
Zhang's only child died more than 10 years ago. In 2023, she began seeking solace by learning to play drums at a music studio in Kunming.
A man teaches elderly people how to play the drums at a music studio in Kunming, the capital of southwestern China's Yunnan province, on March 20, 2024. (China News Agency/Liu Lanyang)
The lively lives of the elderly are reflected in many aspects.
The Internet has created a platform for seniors to participate in livestreams focused on health, online shopping, and fitness. This has led to the rise of older internet celebrities and vloggers in the fields of travel, exploration, and fashion.
Universities for the elderly in China have responded to the spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly and provided a variety of educational services.
According to records from the China Association of Universities for the Elderly, there were 76,000 universities for the elderly nationwide in 2023. In 2024, Yunnan University for the Elderly will see an 18.6% increase in enrollment over the previous year, with the number of students exceeding 5,600 and 55 majors available.
University President Chen Liang said the university's newly introduced majors, such as mobile photography, short video production, and image and video editing, are popular.
Seniors learn how to walk and pose along a catwalk at Yunnan University for the Elderly on April 2, 2024. (China News Agency/Liu Lanyang)
Changes in the concept of elderly care and changes in the lifestyle of the elderly have increased the independence of the elderly and led them to pursue a higher quality of life. According to Li Yanhua, an associate professor at Yunnan University, this has facilitated the development of new consumer markets in the education, entertainment, and health and wellness sectors.
According to the Silver Economy Research Group at Fudan University Institute of Aging, China's silver economy is expected to reach 19.1 trillion yuan ($2.65 trillion) by 2035, accounting for 27.8 trillion yen of total consumption. %, accounting for 9.6% of GDP.
(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)