Seniors' social clubs gain popularity among retirees in Shanghai

A growing number of newly retired residents in Shanghai are turning to one-stop social clubs designed specifically for seniors, reflecting rising demand for social activities and entertainment among the city's senior residents.

At one such club in Shanghai's Minhang District named Yitian, visitors can spend an entire day socializing, dining and taking part in activities including dancing, karaoke and board games. For just over 100 yuan (14.5 U.S. dollars) per person, the all-inclusive package covers two freshly cooked meals as well as access to entertainment facilities such as a dance floor and a professionally equipped stage.

Many customers say venues like this provide a rare platform where retirees can gather with friends, perform and stay socially active.

According to the Yitian Club's operations manager Qian Ziqing, around 99 percent of the customers are newly retired people between the ages of 55 and 65. Their main motivation is to reconnect with friends and maintain an active social life. He added that many in this group remain in good physical condition and have spending power and consumption habits comparable to younger consumers.

Qian said similar one-stop venues were rare when the club first opened, which helped attract strong customer demand. Many visitors would return shortly after their first visit, with the same-day repeat rate sometimes exceeding 50 percent.

Since opening its first location in 2023, the brand has expanded to four outlets in just over two years. Each store now records average monthly sales of more than 2 million yuan (about 290,000 U.S. dollars).

Industry observers say the model is not simply about dining, but about creating a dedicated social space for seniors. Through scaled operations, the clubs are able to lower costs while maintaining a wide range of services and experiences for customers.

Seniors' social clubs gain popularity among retirees in Shanghai

The surge in fuel prices triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has squeezed fishermen's profits in Spain, putting thousands of fishing industry jobs in peril.

The war in Iran has been raging since February 28, disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world's oil traverses, causing oil prices to increase.

In Spain, some fishermen are now questioning the future of their business amid skyrocketing diesel costs. Lucas Ramis, who recently invested in a new boat, said the high price of fuel is putting his livelihood at risk.

Spain is the world's largest octopus market, consuming as much as 85,000 tons annually. Despite this vast market, Ramis said they sometimes haul in as little as 10 kilograms of octopus, which is barely enough to cover the cost of starting the engines.

"Today, going out to work costs more than the work itself," said Ramis.

"Many people moor their boats on the shore, while people like us have to go out to work," he added.

The Spanish government announced a six-billion U.S. dollar aid package in March to alleviate the effects of the fuel crisis resulting from the Iran war, including around 30 million dollars for the fishing industry.

However, continuing volatility means prices could stay high and some say the subsidies sometimes don't reach their targets.

"The fuel price has seen a real rise of over 80 percent. We are drowning in taxes and rising costs, and we need this government help now. Some of the aid is actually loans, but no one will take out loans now with this instability and how indebted this industry already is. You don't see much happiness around here," said Domingo Bonin Bautista, president of Balearic Fishery Workers' Association.

Soaring fuel costs from Iran war squeeze fishermen's profits in Spain