China's "silver trains" redefine senior travel with customized services

China

China's "silver trains" redefine senior travel with customized services

2025-04-21 21:44 Last Updated At：22:07

China's new "silver trains" are transforming senior travel from a logistical hurdle into a seamless adventure, offering onboard AI-powered classes, emergency medical support, and tracking devices, all designed for passengers aged 65 to 70.

Recently in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, hundreds of excited senior citizens boarded one of China's innovative "silver trains", a groundbreaking travel service designed specifically for elderly passengers.

The train set off on a weeklong journey to Sichuan Province in southwest China, carrying over 400 senior passengers with an average age of 70. Designed for comfort and engagement, the specially configured train offered more than just transportation. Each traveler received a comprehensive guide featuring weather forecasts, outfit recommendations, and a schedule of onboard activities, from AI workshops to traditional Chinese ear therapy sessions.

"I have finally relaxed and gone on a trip. Even though it's my first time, it feels so familiar, just like coming home," said a first-time traveler, reflecting on the welcoming atmosphere.

"They even have group leaders, medical staff, plus opportunities to learn, sing, and join photography contests. They've really thought of everything," said another passenger.

Xu Mei, deputy secretary of China Railway Shandong Culture and Tourism Group, highlighted the rising demand for senior-friendly travel experiences.

"As our living standards have improved, I feel that retirees are now seeking more fulfillment on a spiritual and emotional level. Silver trains are a great way for seniors to travel," she said.

The journey featured cultural visits to historical landmarks such as Huangze Temple and breathtaking natural landscapes like Jiuzhaigou Valley.

For 70-year-old Wang Jingke, a former professor, the trip fulfilled her lifelong dream.

"I have dreamed of this place (Jiuzhaigou Valley). I finally made it," she said.

Meanwhile, enhanced safety measures ensure peace of mind, featuring portable tracking devices for added security.

"Xiaowen, can you hear me?" Wang tested her device, to which the tour guide promptly responded, "I see your location."

Medical support is available onboard, with emergency SOS devices equipped with cords installed throughout the carriages for safety.

"The SOS emergency signal can help with location tracking. There's a rope attached to it. For elderly passengers, especially those who are weak or suddenly fall seriously ill, they can pull the rope. This way, the monitoring center can accurately pinpoint their location, and our doctors can reach the area immediately," explained former physician Li Qiuping.

With China's population aged beyond 60 exceeding 300 million, accounting 22 percent of the total, experts see great potential in such senior-focused services.

Liu Xiangdong, an associate professor of the School of Economics and Management at the University of Science and Technology Beijing suggested future improvements.

"In terms of accessibility and safety, the train can improve the aisle slope, add more accessible restrooms in the future, to reduce the risk of falls for seniors. To accommodate age-related changes in vision and hearing, features like voice-controlled lighting and VR viewing devices could be introduced," Liu said.

As these silver-haired travelers attend classes, make new friends, and explore scenic destinations with tailored support, China's silver trains are redefining what retirement travel can be, turning what was once a challenging experience into a comfortable, enriching adventure.

Former Italian PM calls for dialogue, acceptance of differences in global cooperation

Romano Prodi, former prime minister of Italy and former president of the European Commission, has warned against the resurgence of a Cold War mentality in an exclusive interview with the China Central Television that aired on Friday, emphasizing that global peace and cooperation depend on the ability of nations to accept their differences and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Reflecting on the shifting global landscape, Prodi said that political issues have become increasingly entangled with economic, human rights, and trade concerns.

He warned that this "mixture of tension" is often used as a pretext to further escalate conflicts rather than resolve them.

"I have insisted my life to a decrease of tension step by step. You know, with, as I told you, the political problem which are mixing with problems of economy, of human rights, of regulation, of trade, and now we have a mixture of tension, in which everything is taken as an excuse to increase that. My political idea is that, you have to talk with everybody. From this point of view, it's a Western mistake that to have, let's say, agreement, you need to have the same political system. This is completely wrong," he said. Prodi challenged the prevailing Western notion that international agreements require identical political systems, arguing that such a mindset ignores the unique historical trajectories of different nations. He stressed that countries must move beyond mere respect to a deeper level of understanding and acceptance of their inherent differences.

"We understand that we were born different. You know, but we have to live as different. And this is the idea that because you are different, I fight against you. And this is everywhere in the world. It's an heritage of the Cold War.We are going back to the old Cold War. If you go on in this situation, we cannot have any type of relaxing our tension," he said.

To break the current deadlock in international cooperation, Prodi called for initiatives in specific fields to restart engagement.

"Somebody must take some initiative in some specific field, you know, in order to start back to cooperate. When people talk, the agreement, or the compromise, is easy to reach. When we are so divided as we are now, it's impossible, because the enemy is the enemy. When you have a dialogue and you have a compromise, we understand that you can live together," said the Italian politician.