China’s seniors are increasingly a happy bunch. And that’s just as well, for the next decade is set to see their numbers swell enormously, in a country which already has a serious problem as regards its aging population. Cheerful retirees are where it’s at.
With the next 10 years to see the 1960s generation continuing to begin their retirement life, media reports have revealed that will result in an average 20 million people retiring every year. That’s 200 million more seniors by 2035.
While it is the growing lack of young people in China which grabs the headlines around the world, the increasingly satisfied life led by seniors has flown under the radar.
In today’s China, many seniors still have a strong sense of social participation and a willingness to use their spare energy to make full use of their talents, either as personal hobbies or to give back to society. This is now a choice they can make, it is what they want to do, resulting in the sense of pride and satisfaction that is happiness.
Living in Bengbu of Anhui Province, Guo Xiaoping is a former Air Force fighter pilot and Navy captain. Shortly after his retirement, he was extended an olive branch by several general aviation companies. While traveling, he spent that time considering whether to become a general-aviation flight instructor.
Guo loves swimming, diving and undertakes some sporting activity 365 days a year. He also enjoys painting, using his retirement to study classical aesthetics and learn the respective advantages of Western oil painting versus Eastern ink painting.
“I declined the birthday party prepared by my friends and chose to go flying”, said Guo, speaking with Bengbu Daily. “China’s general-aviation sector has changed. As long as you are in good health, you can fly even after retirement.”
Elsewhere, in Bengbu’s Nanshan Park, Mei Jiaxin is to be found most mornings seriously practicing martial arts moves with his apprentices and children who have become devotees.
70-year-old Mei is the inheritor of Nanshan Neigong Boxing, a representative project of Bengbu City’s intangible cultural heritage. In line with the concept of promoting traditional martial arts culture, after retirement, Mei devoted himself to the inheritance and teaching of martial arts.
Considering the growing interest in the form and with a sixth-grade student of his winning a provincial martial arts’ competition, Mei comes to Nanshan Park every weekend morning to teach techniques and moves to martial arts’ enthusiasts, rain or shine. Smiling, he said, “If you don’t do something, you will get really old”.
Over on Bengbu’s Shengli Zhong Lu, there is to be found a senior known to all merely as Uncle Sha, on account of his well-patronised snack bar which has been in business for decades.
Pointing to the growth in Bengbu’s cultural tourism, Sha has his sights on a larger store. In his eyes, there is no such thing as retirement. “I support myself, don’t need pocket money from my children and can save a little, which makes me feel at ease. While I still can, I will work harder to earn even more”, said the senior.
Xie Weijiang used to be an electronics-information teacher before retiring. As he and some colleagues said goodbye to their working lives, they pooled their talents to join a volunteer service team and become repairmen, travelling to various residential communities to repair household appliances on a voluntary basis.
As they repair things, talk and laugh together, it is another happy day for Xie. He said, “After retirement, I have something to do with my old friends and I am very satisfied to be able to do something meaningful for society”.
83-year old Xu Yongming was once a member of a local art troupe. After retirement, she became obsessed with opera and formed a group of close friends with similar interests. They come together to sing each afternoon for 2 or 3 hours.
Believing that as long as you have a young mind, you will always be 18 years old, Xu commented that her mental state is very good at present and age is not a problem. “After working hard at home all my life, I should also live for myself”, she said.
Back at the general aviation airport, Guo closed by saying, “I have just retired, so I should learn from older comrades, live and learn, maintain a firm political direction, be charitable and help older comrades in need. Revolutionaries will stay young forever”.
