Chinese retirees embrace "migratory bird" lifestyle, driving silver economy

A growing number of seniors who are retired and energetic choose to travel and live in different places with a "migratory bird" lifestyle, injecting new momentum into the silver economy in China.

In a country so vast like China, the climate varies drastically from place to place, prompting many health-conscious retirees to move regularly to cooler places in the summer, and to warmer places in the winter.

Ms. Li, who is from northeast China's Jilin Province, fell in love with Xishuangbanna in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a place without winter, after her first visit in 2021.

Since then, she has come to Xishuangbanna to "spend the winter" and returns to northeast China in April to "spend the summer" every year.

"The good air quality makes me feel comfortable here. It's suitable for the elderly to live in for retirement. This is a place with abundant plants and the food price here is affordable," said Ms. Li.

Compared with traditional tourism, the pace of sojourn is slower and the duration longer, allowing people to enjoy a more relaxed and comfortable life.

From January to October this year, the number of tourists to Yunnan has surpassed one billion, with the average length of stay per tourist increasing from 2.8 days to 3 days.

"The good water quality, air, and the environment here make me want to stay even more, and I just can't bear to leave," said Xia Quan, another sojourner.

"We will provide different types of food based on where the people come from. For those coming from the north, we'll offer wheaten food. As for activities, we have places like game room and table tennis room for the elderly to enjoy their leisure time," said Yang Hongwei, an innkeeper.

Official data shows that China was home to 297 million people aged 60 and above by the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the country's total population.

As a new generation of healthy, vigorous and richer Chinese adults enter retirement age, the number of old-age "migratory birds" is expected to keep growing in the following years.

Chinese retirees embrace "migratory bird" lifestyle, driving silver economy

Chinese retirees embrace "migratory bird" lifestyle, driving silver economy

As winter sets in, swans are seen leisurely resting in the bay at Yandunjiao Village in Rongcheng City in east China's Shandong Province, creating a harmonious scene between humanity and nature.

The establishment of the Rongcheng state-level swan nature reserve, coupled with growing public awareness of swan protection, has led to an increase in the number of swans spending the winter season in the area each winter. This surge is a result of improved ecological conditions thanks to the efforts of local authorities and residents.

In the village, factories that once polluted the swan bay have been relocated. Local authorities have also put up specialized fences to prevent tourists from disturbing the swans and have mobilized volunteers to patrol the area along the bay. These measures have helped create a safe haven for the swans, making the area an increasingly popular winter destination for them.

Every morning, while locals are hurrying to gather seafood along the beach, swans are swimming leisurely nearby, demonstrating closer ties between humanity and swans.

China's Shandong sees harmonious scene between humanity, swans in winter season