In the bustling senior health and care center in Yanjiao, north China’s Hebei Province, life is taking on a new hue for over 5,000 elderly residents. Ninety-five percent of them have migrated from Beijing, seeking a comfortable and affordable retirement away from the city’s high costs and crowded facilities. Sharing spacious one-bedroom apartments of about 60 square meters at a cost of around 8,000 yuan per month—about a third cheaper than similar facilities in Beijing—they are part of a growing trend among China’s silver generation.
As China’s population continues to age rapidly, more seniors from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are embracing cross-city retirement. This shift sees them moving to neighboring cities with better living conditions, lower costs, and enhanced senior care services to enjoy their golden years.
Challenges in Major Cities
Beijing, one of China’s fastest-aging cities, had 22.6% of its citizens aged 60 and above by the end of 2023. Many seniors in the capital live in outdated neighborhoods with limited access to senior care facilities. The scarcity of urban land further limits the availability of affordable and accessible senior care facilities in the city.
Regional Collaboration for Senior Care
To address these challenges, a pilot program for coordinated senior care services was launched in 2016 between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province. In March this year, the civil affairs departments of the three regions issued a plan to deepen collaboration, extending Beijing’s high-quality senior care and healthcare resources to Tianjin and Hebei. Seniors from Beijing’s Xicheng District living in Tianjin or Hebei can receive a monthly subsidy of 600 yuan for out-of-town senior care. Currently, over 120,000 elderly residents from Beijing and Tianjin are enjoying senior care in Hebei.
“We cater primarily to seniors from Beijing. They have significant cultural needs. Therefore, we have set up a senior university, gym, and swimming pool, along with nurse stations staffed with professional doctors and nurses on each floor,” said Li Haiyan, head of the senior care institution in Yanjiao.
Emerging Trends in the Yangtze River Delta
Similarly, the Yangtze River Delta region is witnessing a rise in cross-city retirement, with many elderly people opting for “vacation-style retirement,” traveling and living in different places based on the season. Shanghai, the business hub of the region, is highly aged, with seniors aged 60 and above making up 36.8% of its total population.
Since 2018, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui have piloted regional senior care integration, optimizing resources across a larger area. Huzhou, a city in east China’s Zhejiang Province located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, has become a popular destination due to its convenient transportation and vibrant health and tourism industry. In recent years, Huzhou has built several elderly care communities, attracting seniors from cities like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou for short-term stays or long-term residence.
To meet the needs of elderly people requiring professional care, 108 senior care institutions with nearly 50,000 beds in about 40 cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui are now open to seniors from the delta region. The region is also planning and building a variety of health and tourism institutions to cater to the diverse needs of the elderly.
Transitioning to a New Era of Retirement
“With the accelerated aging process in China, the elderly have an increasing ability and willingness to pay for senior care. Their demands for personalized and diverse services are also growing. It is crucial to help seniors transition from survival-based retirement to enjoyment and participation-based retirement,” said Xu Qihua, president of the Shanghai Senior Care Service Industry Association.
The growing trend of cross-city retirement reflects the changing dynamics of China’s aging society. By seeking new retirement destinations, China’s seniors are not only finding better living conditions but also redefining what it means to age gracefully in a rapidly developing country.
Reference(s):
New trends: China's silver generation embraces cross-city retirement
cgtn.com
