‘Charging station for modern life’: Why Chinese youths are flocking to ‘retirement homes’

The majority of the residents are aged between 20 and 40, including consultants, practitioners experiencing job stagnation, and experience applicants. It’s now fully booked for the quarter.

Guanye does not have any formal age restrictions, but there are some unique requirements at another facility in Yunnan’s Mandiu Ancient Village.

Lu Baike, the leader of the Chinese news website Yitiao, stated in an interview that they do not take people over the age of 45. He explained that many of them spend a few days visiting their communities and responsibilities before returning.

” This defeats the purpose of coming around”, he said.

In addition, his heart also does not take in those who have “never worked a day after leaving college and just want to ‘ lay flat ‘”, as this thinking does not coincide with the group’s values.

Guanye’s strategy even diverges from standard caring facilities. The founders told CNA that in a wider efforts of remote revitalization, they had expanded their perception to include a larger community, including renovating unoccupied homes.

Dishes are social matters. Normal activities include rafting, hiking, photo excursions and dumpling-making events, which Mr Cui says helps develop connections between the lodgers and villagers.

Participating in the activities is volunteer because Ms. Xiaofei said the main goal is to create lasting relationships and learn new things, she said.

In China, related children retirement communities have sprouted, indicating a growing demand. While there is no common collection for research, checks by CNA found that such features have been established in areas like Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Yunnan and Shandong.

But the pattern of adolescent retirement homes is seeing opprobrium, particularly from the older generation.

On Chinese social media app Weibo, one person had this to claim:” Why do young citizens want to’ withdraw’ so early? It’s a situation of neglecting person’s correct jobs”.

Another user claimed that the trend reflects “real issues” like the “harsh” work environment and function culture in China, and that it would be difficult to imagine how society was advance if all of the young people adopted this attitude.

” THEY ACQUIRE CULTURAL CAPITAL”

” Young people are tired, many do n’t see hope in achieving what they want in their careers”, acknowledged Dr Amir Hampel, a clinical assistant professor of Global China Studies at NYU Shanghai.

They are n’t just wasting money, he told CNA, even though some choose to opt for a brief disconnect at youth retirement homes.

” They do n’t sit around getting drunk at these centres, for the most part. They acquire cultural capital”.

Fang Jingyu, a 20-year-old university student, was surprised by the brief two-day stay she had at Guanye Youth Retirement Village in early July.

” Previously, I had some prejudice towards rural homestays, with the feeling that the bourgeois charm and local culture were often at odds”, she told CNA.

” However, this was not the case here. I was deeply impressed by the strong emotional bonds between the organisers, guests, and local villagers”.