Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT
Whether savoring Shunde's double-layer milk pudding in South China's Guangdong Province or experiencing Jiangxi Province's Jingdezhen porcelain heritage in East China, a train set to depart from Beijing in March will provide elderly passengers on board a grand experience.
Aptly named the "Silver-haired Train," it is a moving tourism vehicle powered by the speedy "wheel" of China's evolving approach to elderly care.
These vehicles are solid evidence showing how the recent national-level plan addressing the elderly's needs in leisure life are being put into practice.
Backed by China's Ministry of Cultural and Tourism, a total of nine national ministries and departments issued an "action plan" in February addressing issues such as "service supply increases" and "diversifying route and themes" in the country's silver-haired train development.
One of the proposals in the action plan stresses efforts to "support intangible cultural heritage (ICH) on board trains."
This can be read as a sign that the Chinese elderly's idea of tourism is shifting from an "I-was-here" type of sightseeing to tourism involving cultural experiences, such as those related to ICH food or art.
Yin Yuejuan, a 64-year-old retired teacher, told the Global Times that she just rode a silver-haired train departing from Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province that passes through neighboring Guizhou Province.
During her journey she enjoyed "on-train performances by the Bouyei ethnic group, panda buns and more."
"I learned several songs from their performance. It is like a new cultural skill that I can share at my dance class," said Yin.
The train, which provides elderly passengers the chance to gain cultural skills, actually reflects one aspect of China's evolving elderly caring system - instead of being solely dedicating to health and medical care, China also values the spiritual growth of the community.
These trains are not only on trips across physical space, but also on a journey of mental contentment.
Additionally, incorporating cultural elements with trains is a new way of popularizing China's diverse cultures.
By the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above reached 310.31 million, accounting for 22 percent of the national population.
Also in 2024, more than 1,800 tourist trains were operated nationwide, with elderly passengers accounting for nearly 80 percent of travelers.
By 2040, "silver tourism" will account for 50 percent of all domestic travel in China, according to the China National Committee on Ageing.
The elderly community acts as a window to look upon the country's tourism industry.
Projects like the Silver-haired Train are not just a response to elderly people's evolving tastes in travel, but an opportunity for the tourism industry to upgrade itself by launching creative products that cater to elderly consumers.
Besides trains departing from Beijing and Chengdu, other routes such as the "Fun visits to the Yangtze River Delta" have also been launched to cover tourist destinations like Shanghai and Shengzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. Also, the themes of these trains have narrowed in focus, such as "The Panda Train to Spring," to catch travelers' attention.
More creative train products become, the more elderly passengers the industry can attract.
This shows how the relationship between the elderly community and tourism represented by public services in China is reciprocal.
It is also a positive sign that reveals the "balanced and healthy" development of the country's elderly care system, cultural sociologist Xu Shuming told the Global Times.
"I feel I'm still valued by society. Social services like these trains help me to enjoy my life just like a young person," Yin told the Global Times.
China's Silver-haired Train routes may diversify and change, but the country's dedication to bettering elderly people's lives will never be replaced and only continue to be updated over the years ahead.
According to the February action plan, by 2027 the country will aim to establish a comprehensive product system for Silver-haired Trains that covers the entire country, offers diverse routes, enriches themes, and provides all-around services.
Prior to these trains, China launched several other major projects such as providing smart and digital assistance to the elderly.
As a powerhouse of transportation infrastructure, China is known for its advanced train designs such as the Fuxing trains.
If these trains are important symbols of the country's modernity and industrial growth, then the Silver-haired Train is a significant way to reveal the country's unchanging attitude for respecting and assisting the elderly.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn
