METRO SHANGHAI / CITY PANORAMA
Shanghai’s aging population requires more green spaces, walking paths
City of seniors
In the early morning hours of Shanghai, it is common to see senior citizens doing exercises in parks downtown. Surrounded by greenery, birds and fresh air, many elderly enjoy practicing taiji, dancing to traditional Chinese music or simply stretching their bodies with public exercise equipment.
Doing morning exercises outside is a veritable lifestyle for most Chinese seniors. The healthy habit not only contributes to their physical and mental wellness, but also helps them meet new friends and exchange ideas and information with others. Currently the city has over 150 parks with sports facilities or exercise equipment; over one million people in Shanghai do their daily exercises at parks.
Shanghai, however, is rapidly becoming an aging society. Over 4 million residents in Shanghai with a hukou are no less than 60-year-old, accounting for around 33 percent of the city's total population with a hukou, Xinmin Evening News reported in 2018. The average life expectancy of local citizens was around 83 years old in 2017.
The passion for sports among Shanghai residents has also increased in recent years. The percentage of people in this city who exercise regularly rose from about 38 percent in 2014, to around 42 percent in 2017.
However, the city's current sports venues simply cannot meet this growing demand. Compared with other large Chinese cities such as Beijing and Tianjin, the per-capita sports area of Shanghai is relatively lower. Downtown, the conflict between residents' demand for sports and outdoor leisure venues and the dire lack of space is even more intense.
Most sports venues in Shanghai are outdoor; indoor fitness centers are not sufficient and far between. Some neighborhood sport facilities are old without maintenance. Management and service levels of local venues also requires improvement in order to keep up with usage.
The Shanghai municipal government, therefore, aims to enhance its fitness service system citywide, improving the satisfaction level of its citizenry. For instance, local citizens' per-capita sports area is expected to be raised to 2.4 square meters by 2020. The authority will also try to add more green spaces and vehicle-free walking paths for local residents to exercise.
Doing morning exercises outside is a veritable lifestyle for most Chinese seniors. The healthy habit not only contributes to their physical and mental wellness, but also helps them meet new friends and exchange ideas and information with others. Currently the city has over 150 parks with sports facilities or exercise equipment; over one million people in Shanghai do their daily exercises at parks.
Shanghai, however, is rapidly becoming an aging society. Over 4 million residents in Shanghai with a hukou are no less than 60-year-old, accounting for around 33 percent of the city's total population with a hukou, Xinmin Evening News reported in 2018. The average life expectancy of local citizens was around 83 years old in 2017.
The passion for sports among Shanghai residents has also increased in recent years. The percentage of people in this city who exercise regularly rose from about 38 percent in 2014, to around 42 percent in 2017.
However, the city's current sports venues simply cannot meet this growing demand. Compared with other large Chinese cities such as Beijing and Tianjin, the per-capita sports area of Shanghai is relatively lower. Downtown, the conflict between residents' demand for sports and outdoor leisure venues and the dire lack of space is even more intense.
Most sports venues in Shanghai are outdoor; indoor fitness centers are not sufficient and far between. Some neighborhood sport facilities are old without maintenance. Management and service levels of local venues also requires improvement in order to keep up with usage.
The Shanghai municipal government, therefore, aims to enhance its fitness service system citywide, improving the satisfaction level of its citizenry. For instance, local citizens' per-capita sports area is expected to be raised to 2.4 square meters by 2020. The authority will also try to add more green spaces and vehicle-free walking paths for local residents to exercise.
Two senior citizens use sports equipment to work out.Photos: Chen Xia/GT
A woman practices taiji. Photos: Chen Xia/GT
An old man does pull-ups.Photos: Chen Xia/GT
A senior in a park Photos: Chen Xia/GT
A senior citizen stretches.Photos: Chen Xia/GT
A small music amplifier hanging from a tree Photos: Chen Xia/GT
