Elderly at and above 60 years old are become a pillar of China's tourism, driving its surge in the first half (H1) of 2025.
According to travel booking platform Qunar.com, destinations like Sanya in the south, Harbin in the northeast, and Urumqi in the northwest ranked among the top options for these silver-haired travelers in H1, with hotel bookings by this age group rising 37 percent during the May Day holiday.
In addition, 75 new "silver-haired trains" were launched in H1, catering to the growing demand for elderly-friendly travel options. To date, China has cumulatively launched over 360 such trains.
The boom also extends to the water. The Ministry of Transport introduced 36 domestic "golden waterway tourism routes" in late June. Located across 23 provincial level regions, these routes link urban landscapes, natural scenery, and cultural attractions, offering a comfortable all-in-one trip for seniors.
Adding to the evolving travel needs of seniors, the National Bureau of Statistics reports that per capita spending on education, culture, and entertainment reached 1,499 yuan (about 209 U.S. dollars) in H1, up 11.8 percent year on year.
China's silver tourism booms in H1
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.
In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.
"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.
Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.
Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.
"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.
Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.
Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.
"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.
Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela
