By Shi Fang, People’s Daily
On a recent afternoon at Kunming Changshui International Airport, southwest China’s Yunnan province, more than a dozen seniors disembarked to commence an eight-day “travel and stay” program from Kunming to Jianshui county in the province’s southeast.
“This itinerary was first drafted last October. We revised it more than a dozen times and tested the route twice ourselves,” said Gao Yin, head of “travel and stay” programs at Beijing Health & Elderly Care Group.
“Given age-related mobility factors, we try to avoid steep climbs and long walks to minimize physical strain,” said Gao. For example, the standard five-kilometer Jiuxiang Caves walking tour was modified to incorporate a boat passage, reducing the walking distance to just two kilometers.
For 68-year-old Beijing resident Jia Yuanxiang, the pace makes all the difference. “The unhurried pace with midday respite perfectly accommodates seniors,” he said. Having explored China extensively post-retirement, Jia found conventional group tours increasingly tiring. “This integrated travel-residence model fundamentally transforms the experience,” he observed.
“This group’s average age is 68. We provide full-time personal attendants and medical personnel for comprehensive support throughout the journey,” Gao said.
As China’s population ages, residential tourism is becoming a preferred choice for many seniors. Across the country, regions are developing tailored health and leisure programs while building attractive destinations for long-stay elderly visitors.
In Kunming’s Sheng’ai Elderly Care Park, 89-year-old Peng Bijun resides in a sunlit apartment furnished with cream-colored modern furniture and botanical wallcoverings. The Beijing native, now settled for nearly a year, appreciates the culinary offerings. “We get five meals a day, with a wide variety of dishes and no repeats. On holidays, there are extra treats,” she said.
Meanwhile, at the Ancient Dian Elderly Care Park in Kunming’s Jinning district, 70-year-old Zhou Yi shares a two-bedroom apartment with her brother. “At approximately 3,000 yuan ($417.35) a month per person, food, accommodation, and entertainment are included,” she said. She particularly values the cultural programs, which encompass more than 20 clubs for choir, calligraphy, Peking opera, folk music, and tai chi.
A safe, comfortable, and accessible living environment remains essential to seniors’ quality of life. At Pengyang Elderly Care Home in Kaiyuan, Yunnan province, bathrooms are equipped with shower stools, non-slip mats, and grab bars, handrails line the living room, and beds are set at 60 centimeters for easy access.
For seniors traveling unaccompanied by family, a 24/7 emergency support infrastructure proves critical. “Personal attendants respond immediately to our calls at any hour,” affirmed Liu Qingchuan, a seven-year resident of Ancient Dian Elderly Care Park with his wife.
Each unit integrates emergency alert buttons in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. “Assistance arrives within moments of activation,” Liu emphasized. This safety framework extends to weekly organized excursions, where dedicated attendants accompany participants throughout off-site activities.
Addressing intergenerational care responsibilities, the Ancient Dian Elderly Care Park established an on-site kindergarten currently serving more than 200 children. This integrated model enables grandparents requiring childcare support to participate in residential tourism programs.
“In addition to one-stop elderly care services, we also provide customized programs,” said Yuan Chungang, chairman of Yunnan Shengjing Tourism & Elderly Care Development Co., Ltd.
Chronic disease management also represents a critical component of senior care infrastructure. At Sheng’ai Elderly Care Park, director Mou Lin detailed the facility’s comprehensive approach. “We have internal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine services on-site, enabling treatment of routine conditions without requiring off-site travel. For emergencies, we maintain tiered triage protocols with hospital transfer capabilities, achieving response times as low as six minutes.”
This is facilitated through partnerships with three tertiary hospitals proximate to the facility. Every resident benefits from individualized electronic health records, daily vital monitoring, 24/7 nursing coverage, and scheduled physician rounds.
Despite these advancements, many elderly people lack the information needed to choose the right facility. During their stays, they may also encounter unregulated services or insufficient safety measures.
To improve transparency, the Beijing Association of Senior Care Industries launched a dedicated service platform last November. As of March 10, the platform listed information on 144 elderly care institutions in Tianjin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and other regions, including their locations, bed availability, and fees. The interface enables seniors to efficiently compare options, submit inquiries, and book reservations aligned with personal requirements.
“The platform transforms oversight from reactive monitoring to proactive governance by directly connecting service providers with consumers,” said Wang Dingxue, head of the division for the promotion of aging services at Yunnan’s department of civil affairs. “If an institution’s service falls short, it is removed from the platform. This ensures that the rights and interests of seniors are well protected.”
