Beijing launches robot-empowered elderly care station

China

Beijing launches robot-empowered elderly care station

2026-03-17 17:19 Last Updated At：23:17

Beijing has launched a groundbreaking robot-assisted elderly care station in Yizhuang, its southeastern district. This innovative facility offers a range of services, including medical care and leisure activities tailored specifically for senior residents. According to the authorities of the Chinese capital city, the elderly-friendly center is the first of its kind in the world.

The station, covering a usable area of approximately 1,100 square meters in Yizhuang's Ronghua community, is equipped with more than 40 types of smart robots that serve the senior residents with services like massage and rehabilitation training. The senior residents can also play board games with the robots and drink a cup of hot tea made by them.

"The elderly care station offers a wide range of activities covering almost everything -- games, dancing, singing, and much more," said Zhuang Lei, an 80-year-old local resident.

The station is expected to serve tens of thousands of residents within the community and receive more than 300 visits per day.

"Unlike traditional elderly care stations, we have integrated basic services, age-friendly retrofitting services, and robot-assisted services. We will gradually collect suggestions and opinions from the elderly and give feedback to service providers. This helps promote the upgrading of robots and ensure the sound operation of our scenarios," said Zhang Li, head of the community office of people's livelihood security.

The elderly care station is part of Beijing's pilot projects aimed at expanding the application of smart elderly care across various scenarios.

Chinese documentary "The Heritage Guardian" airs in Laos

The Heritage Guardian, a China Media Group (CMG) documentary featuring President Xi Jinping's deep concern for the inheritance and development of culture, began airing along with other two documentaries made by the group on mainstream media outlets in Laos on Monday.

Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, sent a congratulatory letter on the documentaries' airing .

The documentaries reflect the importance that Xi places on cultural heritage protection, as well as Xi's far-sighted vision in governance and profound patriotism, said Thongloun in the letter, noting that the documentaries provide examples for Laos to carry forward its unique national culture while pursuing economic and social development.

CMG and the publicity department of the LPRP Central Committee held a broadcast launch event in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Tuesday.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, and is the China-Laos Friendship Year.