Huang Lilu Unlike worship of youth in America, respect for the elderly has been a tradition in China for several thousand years. Chinese senior citizens are enjoying a colorful life today. In cities, from morning till dusk, you may encounter seniors doing Taiji breathing exercises, playing Chinese chess or singing arias of Beijing or other local operas in parks. The elderly attend calligraphy or painting classes, and exhibitions are always held for their works. They take part in fashion shows or attend discos for the aged.
Seniors also receive regular pensions in prosperous villages.
The media carries articles praising married couples, who take care of their parents and condemn those who fail to do so. Soldiers or high school students are organized into volunteer teams to help childless seniors with household chores. But as the population ages, these arrangements are not enough to address the problem. The number of elderly over 60 has now hit 126 million or roughly 10 percent of the nation's population. By 2030, the ratio is expected to reach 22 percent.