China announced the launch of its new "Silver Trains," a fleet of rail services specifically designed to cater to the needs of senior citizens. The initiative aims to promote tourism and support elderly travelers by providing comfortable and safe transportation options.
The "Silver Trains," also referred to as Silver Hair trains, feature amenities tailored to the elderly, including comfortable beds, handrails, oxygen bottles, and emergency call buttons to ensure greater attention and safety for passengers. The trains are also equipped with entertainment facilities such as karaoke lounges, chess rooms, and reading corners to create a lively atmosphere for travelers, with plans to develop themed itineraries and products.
By 2027, China is expected to have constructed a national network of dedicated Silver Hair trains for elderly tourists, featuring over 100 specially designed routes and 2,500 scheduled trips annually. The initiative is part of a broader effort to transform China's tourism industry for its increasingly large elderly population, aiming to boost the economy by encouraging retirees to travel more.
People over 60 years old constitute 22% of China's population. In the next ten years, this number is expected to grow to over 400 million. This rapidly aging population, a result of the 1960s baby boom and the one-child policy, makes initiatives like the Silver Hair trains particularly important.
Chinese railway companies began adapting their services for older passengers, including the introduction of the Silver Hair trains designed to meet their needs. Some of these tourist trains are equipped with medical and caregiving facilities, including caregivers and professional medical staff who can provide basic care, limited treatments, and prescribe emergency medications.
Chinese officials have urged restaurant brands and performance groups to provide services for the new trains, enhancing the services tailored to the needs of elderly travelers. Additionally, they have called on popular tourist sites to upgrade their facilities to facilitate access for the elderly.
"The elderly population, especially retirees, enjoy an abundance of free time and also economic resources," said Zhang Lingyun, a professor and editor-in-chief of the journal Tourism Tribune, according to a report by Focus Online. He added that they want to reach older travelers even better in the future.
"Compared to other trains, this train is more advanced in every aspect. It comes with hosts, medical staff, and dining cars. It has everything," said passenger Li Guangfu to China Central Television.
A train that recently departed from Chengdu for a five-day tourist journey provided elderly passengers with traditional performances of Chinese folk singing and a performance of Bian Lian, a traditional opera art involving rapid mask changes.
The main customer base for these tourist trains is middle-aged and elderly travelers, who account for 80% of ticket sales. Many retirees in China have savings, and the Chinese authorities assume that seniors, despite an average pension of 440 euros, will soon account for a third of the purchasing power in the country.
The Silver Trains initiative is part of China's strategy to develop a "silver economy" estimated to be worth 30 trillion yuan in the next decade, aimed at boosting consumer spending among older citizens. It was worth 900 billion euros last year.
China's vast railway network plays a crucial role in this initiative. China's railway network transported over 4 billion passengers last year, and there are currently 1,860 tourist trains operating in the country.
The Chinese government recognizes the potential of the elderly population to stimulate domestic consumption, especially during a period of economic challenges. Encouraging the elderly to spend more may help Beijing boost consumption. The younger generation in China is facing job instability and real estate downturns, especially in major cities.
As part of the Silver Trains plan, medical institutions will collaborate with railway authorities to provide medical personnel and emergency care services. The trains will also offer routes and themed excursions to cater to the interests of elderly travelers.
"Compared to self-driving tours, railway tours save costs, time, and effort, making them very suitable for elderly people," said Wang Zhanqi, a 61-year-old tourist from Qinghai Province, to Xinhua News Agency.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.