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'Migration' of seniors south
By Lu Feiran |
January 17, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
"MIGRANT bird seniors" are escaping Shanghai's winter chill in growing numbers and heading south to tropical Hainan Province.
Among those are city seniors Yu Jiaying and his wife who are heading to the island province for a fortnight to avoid Shanghai's coldest period. In a special deal offered by a city travel agency, they will stay at a nursing home where they can enjoy the sun and the beach and receive health care for around 1,750 yuan (US$250) each.
This covers accommodation and meals, though the seniors must make their own way there, and is considerably cheaper than a break in Sanya, a popular tourist destination on the south of the island.
"We've heard that a one-week travel to Sanya would cost more than 10,000 yuan," said 68-year-old Yu. "So the price is really good, even though we won't be staying in a five-star hotel."
Shanghai Yinfa Travel Service Co Ltd, a travel agency that offers travel packages for seniors, said these are proving very popular this winter and that they are sending 10 seniors to Hainan every day.
"This winter is said to be colder than previous years, so many seniors are looking to go somewhere warmer," said Rong Rong, sales manager with Shanghai Yinfa.
Shanghai civil affairs authorities said there are two categories of migrant bird seniors: those who move south for winter; and those who retire to other areas.
Liu Aihua, 54, a retired electromechanical worker, is one such senior. She is looking for an apartment in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and will move there with her husband in three years, after he retires.
"We want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, where I have lived in for half of my life, so we can enjoy a more peaceful time as I get older," said Liu.
Sun Pengbiao, director of the Shanghai Research Center on Aging said the growing number of "younger seniors" is the main reason behind this change in lifestyle among older people.
Last year the 60 to 69 age group constituted almost 49 percent of all city seniors.
This group is more willing to accept a new lifestyle than older people and have more money, said Sun.
Among those are city seniors Yu Jiaying and his wife who are heading to the island province for a fortnight to avoid Shanghai's coldest period. In a special deal offered by a city travel agency, they will stay at a nursing home where they can enjoy the sun and the beach and receive health care for around 1,750 yuan (US$250) each.
This covers accommodation and meals, though the seniors must make their own way there, and is considerably cheaper than a break in Sanya, a popular tourist destination on the south of the island.
"We've heard that a one-week travel to Sanya would cost more than 10,000 yuan," said 68-year-old Yu. "So the price is really good, even though we won't be staying in a five-star hotel."
Shanghai Yinfa Travel Service Co Ltd, a travel agency that offers travel packages for seniors, said these are proving very popular this winter and that they are sending 10 seniors to Hainan every day.
"This winter is said to be colder than previous years, so many seniors are looking to go somewhere warmer," said Rong Rong, sales manager with Shanghai Yinfa.
Shanghai civil affairs authorities said there are two categories of migrant bird seniors: those who move south for winter; and those who retire to other areas.
Liu Aihua, 54, a retired electromechanical worker, is one such senior. She is looking for an apartment in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and will move there with her husband in three years, after he retires.
"We want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, where I have lived in for half of my life, so we can enjoy a more peaceful time as I get older," said Liu.
Sun Pengbiao, director of the Shanghai Research Center on Aging said the growing number of "younger seniors" is the main reason behind this change in lifestyle among older people.
Last year the 60 to 69 age group constituted almost 49 percent of all city seniors.
This group is more willing to accept a new lifestyle than older people and have more money, said Sun.
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