https://www.scmp.com/rss/500672/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A troupe of left-behind rural women in central China has gained online fame through group live streams orchestrated by local Gen Z managers. In Junying village in Henan province, more than 20 women with an average age of 60 wear sunglasses and gloves, colourful jackets and dance with props in a disused courtyard. But this is no ordinary square dancing. In group live-streams, the aunties take on the viral dance routines favoured by younger internet users, while viewers send virtual gifts and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An 84-year-old woman fell in love with an artificial-intelligence (AI) generated human, wrote ‘him’ love letters and spent 10 hours a day watching virtual human videos. Her story reflects the needs elderly people have for love and care. Zhang Yulan, from central China’s Hubei province, was discovered by her family to have been obsessed with a ‘bossy president’ generated by AI. The ‘bossy president’, or ba zong in Chinese, is a term used to describe a popular kind of male character in romantic... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A young Chinese woman lives in a nursing home and pays just 200 yuan (US$30) in rent a month in exchange for offering companionship to the elderly. The life choice of 25-year-old Zhang Jin reveals a new pattern for young people to live under less pressure while helping out with the country’s problem of an increasingly ageing population. Over two years ago, Zhang, a new graduate from eastern China’s Jiangxi province, moved to Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu province when she found a job there. Around... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347157/china-woman-lives-nursing-home-pays-us30-rent-providing-companionship-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347157/china-woman-lives-nursing-home-pays-us30-rent-providing-companionship-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Emma Zang Emma Zang China is betting artificial intelligence will solve its labour shortage, as policymakers ramp up a nationwide push to deploy AI and robotics across the economy. But it may be worsening a different problem: the erosion of stable jobs for young workers. China’s push has accelerated investment in industrial automation, installing more than half of the world’s robots in 2024 alone and doubling down on AI-enabled production. The strategy is presented as a necessary response to the demographic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347386/why-chinas-ai-automation-push-risky-social-experiment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347386/why-chinas-ai-automation-push-risky-social-experiment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang In a heart-wrenching display of devotion, an elderly man from eastern China spent 12 hours every day for 105 days travelling to visit his wife in hospital. Chen Achong, 82, a farmer from Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, and his wife, Xue, have been married for more than 50 years, according to the mainland media outlet Xinwenfang. A year ago, Xue suffered a stroke and soon after developed severe pneumonia, leading to her hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Li Huili Hospital in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347144/chinese-man-82-travels-12-hours-daily-105-days-visit-wife-icu-devotion-touches-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347144/chinese-man-82-travels-12-hours-daily-105-days-visit-wife-icu-devotion-touches-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Young people in China are contributing to a fake account generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to lecture their parents about healthy and scientific life values. A social media account called “Lao Zhao jiang dao li”, or “Mr Zhao talks sense”, went viral recently, amassing over 200,000 followers in just two months. The man surnamed Zhao, based in southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality, claimed in his profile that he is a retired professor who has specialised in parent-child relationships... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346320/china-woman-uses-ai-generated-man-lecture-respecting-science-rejecting-superstition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346320/china-woman-uses-ai-generated-man-lecture-respecting-science-rejecting-superstition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A pet shop owner from southwestern China discovered an abandoned cat with a note and cash, uncovering an elderly person’s final, loving gesture for their pet. On March 7, the woman surnamed Sun, who runs a pet shop in Chuxiong, Yunnan province, found a grey pet carrier outside her shop. Hearing a kitten meowing, she opened it to find a tabby cat surrounded by cat food. “I was furious, thinking an irresponsible owner had abandoned it,” Sun said. But as she looked closer, she found a crumpled... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346210/china-pet-shop-owner-finds-dumped-cat-touching-note-and-cash-elderly-facing-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346210/china-pet-shop-owner-finds-dumped-cat-touching-note-and-cash-elderly-facing-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu More than a million people online have been touched by a Chinese man who posted a huge note on his illiterate mother-in-law’s suitcase to help in case she needed help during her first solo flight. On February 28, the man from Xian city, northwestern China’s Shaanxi province, posted that his mother-in-law would be flying on the same evening to Dalian, in northeastern China’s Liaoning province. He said that the woman, who is in her 60s, is illiterate and does not speak Mandarin. The flight also... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346109/chinese-man-posts-big-note-mother-laws-suitcase-seek-help-her-solo-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346109/chinese-man-posts-big-note-mother-laws-suitcase-seek-help-her-solo-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 102-year-old woman from eastern China has won hearts online with her optimistic attitude and unique lifestyle. Jin Baoling, a centenarian from a rural area in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, is frequently visited by her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Known for her longevity and cheerful personality, fellow villagers affectionately call her “Old Baby.” According to the Taizhou Evening News, Jin is mentally sharp and physically healthy, having not visited a hospital in the past 50... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346119/china-old-baby-102-sleeps-15-hours-daily-loves-pig-trotters-wine-has-not-been-hospital-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346119/china-old-baby-102-sleeps-15-hours-daily-loves-pig-trotters-wine-has-not-been-hospital-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Some Chinese lawmakers and advisers are pushing to secure higher pensions for elderly farmers, underscoring the persistent income disparity between the country’s urban and rural residents. The latest government work report, approved on Thursday, confirmed a 20-yuan (US$2.91) monthly increase to basic pension payments for a third consecutive year, bringing the national minimum to 163 yuan. However, some deputies from China’s top legislature contend that this level is inadequate. “A pension of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346368/chinas-rural-pensions-focus-lawmakers-fight-farmers-fair-share-amid-income-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346368/chinas-rural-pensions-focus-lawmakers-fight-farmers-fair-share-amid-income-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 63-year-old woman from northeastern China, who lost her only child last year and sought another offspring for spiritual support, recently gave birth to a baby girl. The woman delivered the baby on March 4 via caesarean section at a hospital in Songyuan, Jilin province, about two weeks ahead of her due date, as reported by the Sanxiang Metropolis News. Both the mother and her baby, who weighs 2.8kg, are in good health, the report stated. The grey-haired mother, whose name was not disclosed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346058/china-woman-63-gives-birth-baby-girl-after-conceiving-ivf-following-loss-only-child?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346058/china-woman-63-gives-birth-baby-girl-after-conceiving-ivf-following-loss-only-child?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China has for the first time included commercial health insurance in its 2026 government work report, signalling efforts to strengthen the country’s social safety net and support the growth of innovative drugs and medical devices. On Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the government would “work faster to develop commercial health insurance” and promote the “high-quality development of innovative drugs and medical devices” to better meet people’s diverse needs. Behind the unusual emphasis... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:12:46 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 75-year-old Chinese actress has ignited a nationwide debate over age representation after portraying a teenage girl and sharing a kiss with a much younger male co-star in a mini-drama. Liu Xiaoqing, a cherished figure in Chinese cinema with over 10 million social media followers, has long been celebrated for her youthful energy and commitment to her craft, earning her the title of China’s “ageless goddess.” In the mini-drama Splendid Tranquility, which aired in February, Liu plays Su Wanqing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345418/china-actress-75-triggers-debate-playing-teenage-girl-mini-drama-kissing-young-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345418/china-actress-75-triggers-debate-playing-teenage-girl-mini-drama-kissing-young-man?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Young people in China are embracing a new trend of ‘parenting parents’ to heal wounds they inherited from childhood and redefine the traditional value of filial piety. Many have posted that they are ‘reparenting their parents’ on social media. The hashtag ‘reparenting parents’ has nearly 60 million views and 300,000 discussions on just one mainland social media platform. In much the same way their parents taught them how to walk, such people are teaching their elders modern ways of living, such... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344567/china-parenting-parents-trend-sees-youth-teach-mums-and-dads-modern-skills-taking-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344567/china-parenting-parents-trend-sees-youth-teach-mums-and-dads-modern-skills-taking-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A video clip of a woman in her 70s using ritual hell money or toy cards to “buy” snacks at a food street in eastern China without any trouble has touched mainland Chinese internet users. The story unfolded on a food street in Zaozhuang, Shandong province where a poorly dressed grandma often uses her special currency to buy roasted chicken drumsticks, cakes and steamed stuffed buns, the local media outlet Qilu Evening News reported. On February 9, a barbecue booth owner released a video showing... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343168/china-grandma-spends-hell-money-without-complaints-vendors-due-kind-personality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343168/china-grandma-spends-hell-money-without-complaints-vendors-due-kind-personality?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu As retired people in China pursue the dream of studying overseas, the country’s education system is facing the challenge of catering for the demands of an ageing population. Qiu Lianru, 66, became a student of a short-term programme at the Arts University Bournemouth in England last year. Rejecting a traditional restful retirement, Qiu studies fashion design, printmaking, jewellery making and photography and stays in a student dormitory. She says it provides her with inner fulfilment. “I want... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343073/china-seniors-pursue-overseas-education-after-retirement-realise-unfulfilled-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343073/china-seniors-pursue-overseas-education-after-retirement-realise-unfulfilled-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China and South Korea have had a turbulent relationship over the past few years as they compete across a range of hi-tech industries. But the two countries now appear to be bonding over a shared challenge: their rapidly ageing societies. The issue has featured on the agenda of several meetings between President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in recent months, with the leaders pledging to work together to deal with the economic changes being wrought by their nations’ low... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China’s marriage registrations edged up in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope for the birth outlook this year, but analysts caution that deeper demographic headwinds remain entrenched and difficult to reverse without broader policy support. China recorded 6.76 million marriage registrations nationwide in 2025, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, marking a 10.8 per cent increase from a year earlier, or 657,000 more couples. The number of marriage registrations is closely watched in China,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343330/chinas-marriage-rebound-will-more-2025-knots-bring-more-baby-bumps-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343330/chinas-marriage-rebound-will-more-2025-knots-bring-more-baby-bumps-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan Hong Kong stands at a definitive demographic crossroads. With one-third of our population projected to be over 65 by the 2040s, the city can either treat ageing as a fiscal burden or it can transform longevity into a sustainable growth engine. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton’s work on the 100-Year Life project, Hong Kong should boldly embrace longevity as a new development frontier. By leveraging our unique strengths in finance, world-class regulatory frameworks and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok As the Year of the Snake ends, more than 9 billion passenger journeys will unfold during China’s Spring Festival travel period, the greatest annual human migration on Earth. For some, these are the only few weeks in the year when families are together. For many, this is a period when they can find temporary relief from loneliness – from the striving and adjusting, even if not yet assimilating, in the cities where they work, far from their hometowns. The lucky ones, who can make ends meet and are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342802/loneliness-crisis-price-china-paying-rapid-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342802/loneliness-crisis-price-china-paying-rapid-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:01:15 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A new Chinese dating reality show that features a group of single people aged about 50 has become a nationwide hit, sparking discussions about love and desire in the lives of the middle-aged and elderly. The show by tech giant Tencent’s WeTV, Forever by Your Side, was first aired in December 2025, and was branded as “mature singles braving the world of love”. It invites five men and five women around the age of 50 to travel together from Dali in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, a city known... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342370/why-young-china-viewers-are-increasingly-drawn-dating-shows-featuring-older-contestants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342370/why-young-china-viewers-are-increasingly-drawn-dating-shows-featuring-older-contestants?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse We live in an interesting time. It has become clear that many Hong Kong couples would rather have a pet than a child. Small families are now the norm: a 2022 survey by the Family Planning Association showed that childless families made up 43.2 per cent of the population, followed by one-child families at 27.4 per cent and two-child families at 25.2 per cent. Anyone still in doubt would have done well to attend the recent Hong Kong Pet Show, which attracted around 370,000 visitors over the four... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:30:15 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China is experiencing an extraordinary rise in “granfluencers,” or senior influencers, since 2019, as its growing ageing population embraces the online community. Major social media platforms in mainland China have seen a rapid increase in senior users in recent years. RedNote reported over 30 million active users aged 60 and older by 2024, a remarkable threefold increase in just two years. Collectively, these seniors contributed over 100 million posts to the platform. Similarly, Douyin, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Robin Hu Robin Hu I pay far less attention to China’s growth numbers today. What matters more is where fiscal capacity is flowing. China has entered a phase where population ageing, security needs and industrial upgrading all draw on the same budget. This shift follows a structural adjustment in property. Income from land sales – once a pillar of local government finance – has fallen sharply and is unlikely to return. Balance sheets will have to be reset. The question is no longer how much stimulus Beijing can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342057/chinas-real-constraint-where-direct-limited-fiscal-resources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342057/chinas-real-constraint-where-direct-limited-fiscal-resources?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:30:38 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s largest private education company in terms of market value has begun offering leisure courses such as dance and photography for older adults in Beijing, as it pivots towards the country’s fast-growing silver economy. Beijing-based New Oriental Education & Technology Group – which is dual listed in New York and Hong Kong – built its reputation by helping millions of Chinese students prepare for overseas English-language tests such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342108/silver-bullet-new-oriental-pivots-late-age-learners-china-ages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342108/silver-bullet-new-oriental-pivots-late-age-learners-china-ages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:31:54 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun As the number of people living alone in China skyrockets, a wave of products and services is emerging to address the safety, social and mental health needs of the country’s solo-living population, analysts said. The issue was thrust into the public spotlight earlier this month, when a check-in app called Are You Dead? – or Sileme in Chinese – briefly surged to the top of paid app charts in mainland China and several other markets, revealing the scale of China’s vast and rapidly expanding solo... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341009/solo-dining-safety-apps-chinas-loneliness-economy-booming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341009/solo-dining-safety-apps-chinas-loneliness-economy-booming?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip Mainland China’s and Hong Kong’s birth rates fell to record lows last year, despite extensive government incentives to encourage larger families. In Hong Kong, registered births fell 14 per cent to a historic low of 31,714 in 2025. Notably, the increase in births in 2024 may have been due to the auspicious Year of the Dragon. It is believed that babies born in the dragon year will grow up to be smart and successful. This is likely to have affected the timing of births as seen in Hong Kong during... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 91-year-old grandmother in northeastern China has amused internet users with her passionate reactions to TV dramas, including becoming angry and even hitting the TV set when she sees her beloved characters being wronged. The nonagenarian, who lives in Dalian in Liaoning province, captured significant online attention after her granddaughter, Liu, shared videos showing her strong reactions while watching these dramas. In the clips, she can be seen slapping the TV set and berating the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341131/china-granny-loves-tv-dramas-so-much-she-smashes-telly-when-beloved-characters-are-wronged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341131/china-granny-loves-tv-dramas-so-much-she-smashes-telly-when-beloved-characters-are-wronged?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:00:40 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 101-year-old Chinese grandmother has dazzled and inspired many by embracing a “reverse lifestyle”, staying up late to watch TV and snacking freely, yet still leading a healthy life, complete with all her natural teeth. Jiang Yueqin hails from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province in southeastern China, and is a proud mother of seven. In her youth, she turned down job opportunities at a state-owned enterprise to become a full-time housewife, dedicating herself to raising her children. Recently, she has... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese son invited a violinist to play for his dying mother as she lay in her hospital bed, moving many people online with a melody dubbed “the most tender farewell”. Huang Haile, from southern China’s Guangdong province, bid farewell to his mother Ye Jindi on January 6, at the Dongguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A video of the violinist performing Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi’s famous song, Mother, featured in the 1999 film Kikujiro, in Ye’s intensive care unit (ICU) ward,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340014/china-son-invites-violinist-play-terminally-ill-mum-hospital-give-her-strength?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340014/china-son-invites-violinist-play-terminally-ill-mum-hospital-give-her-strength?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China’s birth count plummeted to a record low last year, falling by about 10 million from its 2016 peak and slashing the total by more than half in less than a decade, as the country’s population shrank for a fourth consecutive year. Only 7.92 million babies were born in 2025, down 17 per cent from 9.54 million in 2024, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. This marked the lowest birth figure since records began in 1949 and broke the previous record low set... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340398/chinas-demographic-alarms-blare-births-hit-historic-low-and-population-shrinks-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340398/chinas-demographic-alarms-blare-births-hit-historic-low-and-population-shrinks-again?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 07:09:40 +0000 Albert Bakhtizin Albert Bakhtizin The latest developments in Venezuela are interpreted as part of a broader US strategy to secure access to major oil resources. They are much more than that: the US raid signals a transformation in the global economy wherein a country’s power is increasingly determined not by its political actions, but by its capacity to embed resource wealth within a self-sustaining production system. These deeper processes did not begin today, but rather around 2008-2009 when, according to an integrated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339789/us-venezuela-raid-shows-geopolitics-now-contest-between-economic-blocs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339789/us-venezuela-raid-shows-geopolitics-now-contest-between-economic-blocs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Researchers at Tencent Holdings are looking to collaborate with other major artificial intelligence developers to improve how most generative AI services, such as chatbots, interact with the elderly, left-behind children and other vulnerable users in society. Specialised data sets can make AI services more helpful to vulnerable users who have become progressively reliant on them for emotional support and health assistance, according to Lu Shiyu, a senior researcher at Tencent Research Institute... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3340171/tencent-seeks-collaboration-other-major-ai-developers-improve-tech-vulnerable-users?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3340171/tencent-seeks-collaboration-other-major-ai-developers-improve-tech-vulnerable-users?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:17 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell More than 2,300 years ago, Aristotle mused in Politics that to live alone, a man must be a god or a beast, or words to that effect. I wonder what he would have thought of the popularity of China’s “Are You Dead?” app. For Aristotle, we are social animals, thriving in the “polis” in the company of family, friends and fellow citizens. The average mother had at least five children. Many homes housed three, even four, generations. Family life was noisy and crowded, full of companionship, contest and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340039/families-shrink-our-primary-relationship-increasingly-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340039/families-shrink-our-primary-relationship-increasingly-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Lijia Zhang Lijia Zhang “Rural heating problems in Hebei cannot wait any longer” declared a recent report in Farmers’ Daily. It described a disturbing reality in parts of northern China: elderly villagers who would rather shiver through freezing temperatures than turn on their heaters, because they simply cannot afford the cost. For many urban readers, this may sound implausible. For millions of rural elderly, it is routine. On the surface, the problem appears to be a side effect of China’s well-intentioned... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339618/without-pension-reform-china-leaving-its-rural-elderly-out-cold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339618/without-pension-reform-china-leaving-its-rural-elderly-out-cold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese phone application called “dead or alive” that helps users check in daily has become a top-ranked app, reflecting the trend of solo living among the country’s young people. The Sileme app, or “Dead or alive” in English, is a wordplay from China’s food delivery giant Ele.me (are you hungry), which was recently rebranded by its owner Alibaba Group Holding to Taobao Shangou. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post. The simply designed and functioning app costs eight yuan... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339701/china-dead-or-alive-app-allows-solo-users-check-daily-alerts-contacts-if-they-miss-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339701/china-dead-or-alive-app-allows-solo-users-check-daily-alerts-contacts-if-they-miss-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A superstitious Chinese custom known as “borrowing longevity” involved performing a ritual to pray to the gods when a relative was seriously ill. During this ritual, individuals would voluntarily offer to shorten their own lifespans in hopes of extending the patient’s life. In ancient China, people held a profound belief in fate, considering a person’s lifespan predetermined and unchangeable. However, they also believed that life expectancy could be borrowed or exchanged. When parents were... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3338112/how-ancient-china-borrowing-longevity-custom-helps-extend-lifespan-seriously-ill-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3338112/how-ancient-china-borrowing-longevity-custom-helps-extend-lifespan-seriously-ill-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 08:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A group of retirees cheered under disco lights as 60-year-old Xu Li leapt into her partner’s arms, her legs spread akimbo in perfect splits. It was just a regular Wednesday at one of Shanghai’s many lunchtime dance clubs, a phenomenon born of the city’s deeply rooted love of ballroom culture from its jazz-age heyday. On any given day, multiple venues host hours-long daytime sessions across the finance hub, some starting as early as 6am. Establishments such as the historic Paramount Ballroom are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338461/shanghais-dance-halls-and-clubs-are-thriving-retirees-put-their-dancing-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338461/shanghais-dance-halls-and-clubs-are-thriving-retirees-put-their-dancing-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:15:09 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China has taken a step towards regulating the childcare industry at the national level, drafting legislation to standardise services and lower costs as policymakers fight to reverse a demographic decline that could have long-term economic ramifications. The draft Childcare Services Law was submitted on Monday to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for review, according to Xinhua. The bill, comprising eight chapters and 76 articles, aims to establish a national legal... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337317/china-eyes-childcare-overhaul-law-boost-births-fix-demographic-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337317/china-eyes-childcare-overhaul-law-boost-births-fix-demographic-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:30:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 72-year-old grandmother in Taiwan has stunned the internet by donning a bikini and showcasing her toned muscles at a recent bodybuilding competition, demonstrating that age is just a number and igniting a wave of admiration online. Dubbed the “bodybuilding grandma,” Lin Sui-tzu, 72, from Taipei, took the stage at the 2025 President’s Cup Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. As a grandmother of five, she competed in the over-70 category, impressing judges and the audience with her firm... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335948/bikini-clad-taiwan-bodybuilding-grandma-72-flaunts-toned-muscles-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335948/bikini-clad-taiwan-bodybuilding-grandma-72-flaunts-toned-muscles-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Fan Zeng, one of the most valuable contemporary painters in China, recently announced the birth of his only biological son while severing ties with his other children, once again bringing family disputes into the public eye. At 87 years old, Fan is celebrated for his remarkable artistry, with his works generating sales exceeding four billion yuan (US$567 million) between 2008 and 2024, as reported by news portal QQ.com. At least 10 of his paintings have fetched over 10 million yuan at auction.... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336528/famous-china-painter-87-welcomes-son-wife-37-amid-us280-million-theft-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336528/famous-china-painter-87-welcomes-son-wife-37-amid-us280-million-theft-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun From cash handouts to reimbursed procedures, local governments across China are throwing money at in vitro fertilisation and related fertility treatments in a bid to coax couples into having children. But some experts warn that the hi-tech push ignores the low-tech reality: raising a family is simply too expensive, and fertility subsidies cannot reverse China’s demographic decline. Jingmen, a city in central Hubei province, is the latest to join the fray, announcing subsidies of up to 10,000... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336505/chinas-fertility-push-ivf-grants-grow-high-costs-still-deter-couples?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336505/chinas-fertility-push-ivf-grants-grow-high-costs-still-deter-couples?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:30:16 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 100-year-old grandmother-turned food blogger in Shanghai has trended on social media thanks to her enthusiasm for eating a range of foods. The centenarian’s culinary likes include strong flavoured foods normally shunned by elderly people. The lifestyle of Zhong Wenyu, who turned 100 in September, is far different from that of many senior citizens who usually prefer a bland diet as a common way to preserve their health, the Xinmin Evening News reported. Despite her lack of teeth, Zhong relishes... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335761/chinese-centenarian-food-vlogger-enjoys-diverse-cuisines-shares-longevity-secrets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335761/chinese-centenarian-food-vlogger-enjoys-diverse-cuisines-shares-longevity-secrets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:00:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Amid concern about China’s ageing and shrinking population, a positive factor can be overlooked. Mainlanders are living longer. Average life expectancy hit a record 79 years in 2024, after achieving the goal of growing by 0.2 years annually during the 14th five-year plan. National Health Commission head Lei Haichao says that by the end of the 15th five-year plan in 2030, the country’s newborns should be expected to live an average of 80 years, in line with President Xi Jinping’s “Healthy China”... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335287/silver-lining-chinas-ageing-population-shouldnt-be-overlooked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335287/silver-lining-chinas-ageing-population-shouldnt-be-overlooked?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As the Chinese leadership prepares to set the economic agenda for the year ahead, analysts expect Beijing to mostly maintain this year’s policy tone but say it could tolerate a slightly lower growth target. Chinese leaders will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss next year’s main policy goals during the central economic work conference, which usually takes place in early or mid-December. “To address the demand slump, we expect Beijing to maintain its proactive fiscal policy stance, with a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335356/china-keep-economic-strategy-2026-slightly-lower-gdp-target-possible-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335356/china-keep-economic-strategy-2026-slightly-lower-gdp-target-possible-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:15:13 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China’s average life expectancy hit a record 79 years in 2024, edging closer to developed-nation levels as the country grapples with a deepening demographic crisis and scrambles to improve aged-care resources. In discussing the all-time high, which broke the 2023 record of 78.6 years, National Health Commission (NHC) head Lei Haichao reiterated on Monday that the country’s newborns should be expected to live an average of 80 years by 2030 – a key metric in President Xi Jinping’s “Healthy China”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335079/living-79-chinas-record-longevity-puts-economic-wrinkles-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335079/living-79-chinas-record-longevity-puts-economic-wrinkles-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:30:18 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An elderly woman from central China has turned to the internet in search of a new “daughter” to care for her in place of her biological daughters, offering a flat and a monthly salary in return. The woman, from Henan province and known by her surname Ma, shared the motivations behind her search during a local TV programme on November 19. Ma explained that she has two biological daughters, one of whom wishes to sever ties with her, while the other suffers from a mental disability and is unable to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334045/elderly-china-woman-seeks-daughter-care-her-offers-flat-us420-monthly-salary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334045/elderly-china-woman-seeks-daughter-care-her-offers-flat-us420-monthly-salary?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:11 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu As China rapidly ages, the senior-care sector is poised to become a significant source of job creation. Yet, enthusiasm among the nation’s young workforce remains lukewarm. The care-services industry, including care for elderly residents, is projected to generate millions of jobs and become a driver of household consumption in the years to come, as national demographics shift towards an older population, according to He Dan, director of the China Population and Development Research Centre under... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333979/chinas-senior-care-sector-promising-job-growth-clashes-young-workers-reluctance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333979/chinas-senior-care-sector-promising-job-growth-clashes-young-workers-reluctance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:30:09 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang Nicholas Lardy is a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, both Washington-based think tanks. He has studied the Chinese economy extensively, publishing several books on its growth and development since the late 1970s. His most recent, 2019’s The State Strikes Back, posits a rollback of Beijing’s economic reforms via renewed government intervention in the market. SCMP Plus readers get early access to... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3333495/nicholas-lardy-chinas-unique-economic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3333495/nicholas-lardy-chinas-unique-economic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beyond the technology race, one of the biggest challenges facing China is the shrinking and ageing of its population. After three consecutive years of decline up to 2024, the population is expected to continue falling by about 0.2 per cent a year for the next decade, despite efforts to encourage marriage and child-bearing. This raises questions about sustaining economic expansion to meet economic growth targets. Ageing stemming from greater longevity and fewer births is leaving a shrinking... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333212/china-ages-nurturing-silver-economy-could-help-drive-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333212/china-ages-nurturing-silver-economy-could-help-drive-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:15:08 +0000