China promotes accessible trains to meet growing demands of elderly population

China announced a series of policies to expand senior-friendly tourism services and senior-accessible trains at a press conference on Tuesday in Beijing.

China's population of senior citizens topped 300 million in 2024 bringing new demands for better elderly care services and improvements in the quality and enjoyment of seniors' daily lives.

In response, the Ministry of Commerce, China Railway Group and other departments, released a joint action plan to boost senior-friendly tourism with accessible trains as the centerpiece of the new approach.

Officials say the number of tourist train trips has increased significantly in recent years and, with the expanding elderly population and a growing demand for tourism, the potential for developing elderly-friendly tourist trains is considered huge.

"By 2027, over 100 high-quality routes for senior tourists are expected to be designed, with more than 2,500 elderly-friendly tourist trains in operation," said Zhu Wenzhong, deputy director at the Passenger Transportation Department of the China Railway Group.

According to the action plan, a comprehensive network of senior-friendly tourist trains will be established by 2027, featuring diverse routes, specialized themes and enhanced services for elderly travelers.

Officials emphasized infrastructure upgrades and renovations, making trains and scenic spots more accessible and comfortable with designs specifically catering to the needs of the elderly.

Establishing common standards for senior-friendly travel will be key to improving facilities for senior citizens.

"We need to optimize the services for elderly passengers, deploy professional medical and elderly care personnel on board, and ensure that medical expenses incurred during the journey can be covered through national medical insurance," said Kong Dejun, director of the Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services at the Ministry of Commerce.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, left Beijing on Monday for a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Xi's trip is at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK. This is his first state visit to the DPRK in seven years.

Xi's entourage includes his wife Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister.