Zhengding County in north China's Hebei Province is enchanting an increasing number of global visitors through its rich cultural heritage and iconic temples.
This summer, Zhengding, a historic town just a three-hour drive from Beijing, has seen a significant rise in domestic and international tourists, with cultural tourism bookings surging by 62.7 percent compared to last year.
The small county is making waves globally by connecting cultures and transforming its ancient charm into a cosmopolitan appeal.
Azerbaijani tourist Vusal Guliyev is captivated by the intricate architecture and solemn cultural atmosphere of Longxing Temple in the county.
"Recently I heard that there is a very famous computer game which is called Black Myth: Wukong. Also after that I have been to many places, trying to visit these kinds of temples. I have been in China for many years, so I really like Chinese history. And I also feel very proud that China has such unique traditional historical sites," he said.
Ten years ago, Guliyev came to China to study, pursuing his education from undergraduate to doctoral level. The longer he stayed, the more he fell in love with Chinese culture. After graduation, he and his wife chose to stay and teach at their university. They often explore nearby towns during holidays. "We already visited around and there are even subway stations which pass through Zhengding and the main airport of this region is located in Zhengding. So in an economic perspective, it's also one of the important regions for the whole Hebei," he said. In addition to Zhengding's temples and immersive cultural experiences, Rongguo Mansion in the county - originally a filming location for the 1987 version of "Dream of the Red Chamber" - has been transformed into a venue offering captivating night tours.
North China county attracts global visitors with rich cultural heritage
Many Singaporeans support raising the re-employment age, partly to stay busy and active in retirement, and to help address demographic challenges in the workforce.
Like many other Asian countries, Singapore is grappling with a rapidly aging population. The government predicts that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or older, up from one in 10 two decades ago.
A survey on retirement and employment conducted last year in the country found broad support for raising the national retirement age, with about 88 percent of those aged 50 and above in favor.
Some supported increasing the retirement age because continuing to do what they love, rather than retiring, keeps them feeling youthful and fulfilled.
When Nancy Hor, a retired IT operations manager, left her job five years ago, she wasn't sure how to fill her time.
"I'm a workaholic. At the very first stage after I retired, I felt I could not find balance," she said.
Hor, now 70, said it took her some time to adjust. In her spare time, she stays busy line dancing and spending time with her family.
But she said that if she had had the choice, she would have liked to stay employed a little longer.
"I think it's good for the elderly that even they have some job to do, and keep them busy," said Hor.
In March, authorities announced plans to raise the retirement age to 64 and the re-employment age to 69 by 2026.
Singapore's Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang, said the changes to the rules protect senior workers from dismissal due to age-related issues before they reach the statutory retirement age. Employers are also required to offer re-employment to eligible workers until they reach the statutory re-employment age limit.
This follows a similar move made two years ago to raise the retirement and re-employment ages to 63 and 68, respectively. The city-state is also aiming for a retirement age of 65 and a re-employment age of 70 by 2030.
"That is to reduce the impact on businesses, so it gives time for businesses to adapt their policy. This gradual increase in retirement age basically provides a framework for individuals like myself, who want to continue to be gainfully employed," said Patrick Chang, a retirement planning specialist and the author of the A to Z guide to retirement planning.
Chang said that businesses will need to make adjustments to accommodate the changes, including offering retraining for senior workers.
He noted that the changes won't impact those who still wish to retire earlier, but given Singapore's demographic challenges, the country cannot afford to remain idle.
"If we don't do it now, the social cost could be high. We cannot wait until the time when we need it today, and then we get something done. It will probably be a bit too late, and the cost of getting to that solution will be higher," said Chang.
Many Singaporeans support raising retirement, re-employment ages
