Healthy Chinese elders
One thing about China that never fails to impress me is how physically active retired people are. In Spain, old people are known for sitting in parks, maybe walking around slowly and conversing animatedly, and the only sport they do is playing petanque. Because playing dominoes and cards doesn’t count as a sport, right? Natjan’s post reminded me of this topic when she mentioned the story of Wang Deshun, an 80 year old Chinese man who rose to fame a couple of years ago due to his participation as a model in the China Fashion Week. He is in an amazing physical condition! And even though his case is very unusual, as he is an actor in martial arts films, it made me remember those ladies in the street gyms who can lift their leg up to their shoulders (I don’t think I could do that even when I was a baby).
One of the most popular activities for retired ladies in China is dancing. You can find them every evening after dinner in parks and squares. This activity is called 广场舞 guangchang wu in Chinese and it has become kind of controversial in recent years since people living in the buildings around the dancing spots complained of the noise. But at least the grandmas get to shake their booties! Now if only they would choose less horrible songs… Watch the following video to get an idea of how the dances are. If you see them in the street you can totally join them!
I mentioned before the street gyms. But what are those? I’ve seen them mainly in Beijing and Shanghai, in Suzhou I can’t remember any right now. They consist of metal equipment that is installed in the street or in a park. There are several “machines” to exercise different parts of the body, like in a real gym! They are very useful and we used them a lot in Beijing. Because, you know, gym for free.
This is a “walking in place” machine.
Another sport that I witnessed in Beijing was swimming in the lake or in canals. The swimmers did not seem worried about the sanitary conditions of the water and also did not seem to feel the cold as they even swam in the winter! (But before the lakes froze in the gelid Beijing winter).
This was at the end of November. How was she not freezing?
I would say “I hope I’m this active when I’m old” but I don’t like sports even now… so it seems highly unlikely! Sigh!
What do retired people usually do in your country?
Lol, I have heard about this Chinese dancing in China. I think they also do taichi – that is quite popular in Singapore where old aunties and uncles would gather each morning and do movements to music. Or in silence with a leader at the front. In Australia, I don’t see this Chinese dancing too much from the retired people and my guess is that most of them like to take it easy and walk around the markets or libraries in the mornings.
Oh yes, taichi! I haven’t seen them doing taichi that much because they do it very early in the morning, when I am still in my sweet dreams haha!
It’s so good for people. The level of social interaction is just as important as the movement.
That’s true! They keep being active and social.
Line dancing! That’s the U.S. equivalent of guangchang yu. I don’t know if you would find the music less horrible, though, since it’s mostly country western. They have loads of classes at the YMCA and they are packed with women over 50, many of them Asian. One of my ex-Stepmothers did tap dancing in a group, too — her husband called them “The Dancing Grannies.”
There was a study a few years back about the best physical therapy for those over 50 when recovering from an illness or stroke. Turns out it was ballroom dancing. Not only is there activity, there’s human interaction, plus the mental activity of counting the music.
I think I’ve used the words “dancing grannies” to call the Chinese dancing ladies too haha.
I like Johnny Cash, but I guess that’s not what they dance to :D
Ha, Johnny Cash is old news. It’s all modern country pop for dancing now!
I love those street gyms, btw I also saw at least one in Suzhou when we were there for those few hours..
Anyhow each time I am in Xi’an I do some work out a couple of times in the “backyard gym” where my in-laws are living and also sometimes at the street gym at the city wall just 5 min away. It is really interesting how many people are doing sports there and even more interesting that those are all elderly people. Sometimes when I was doing some pull ups younger Chinese (guys, few years younger than me) were sitting/squatting nearby, smoking and gesturing at me while laughing…all were either incredible thin like sticks or just plain fat :D
Here in Germany, same as in Finland, elderly people do tons of jogging, nordic walking or bicycling. My father for example who turned 75 this year is riding each year several thousand kilometres on his bicycle and competes in some small competitions in Finland. Now just few weeks before his birthday he even joined the gym I am going to and is there 3 times a week.
My mother is a bit less active, especially here in Germany but when she is those 4 months in Finland during summer she rides every morning also 15km the bicycle around the lake
There must be some in Suzhou, but right now I can’t remember seeing them haha. Maybe they’re in the old city, I don’t see any in my area.
Your parents must be in a very good condition!! I should take example haha. My back is starting to bother me, I’m getting old!
I recommend Hudong Neighbourhood Center: Gym, Tai Chi (morning, afternoon), dancing ladies, standard couple dancing, marching band (once a week), Chinese movies on a big screen – great!
On one of my trips to Shanghai, I recently met a retired english university professor in Fuxing Park. We chatted a bit, him mainly wondering about German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcome politics to refugees, me asking him how comes that the park at this time in the morning was so crowded with elderlies engaged in all the above mentioned activities. He told me that those people usually would not have much money but enjoy socializing nevertheless and that this would be one of the rare possibilities to spend time without spending money.
In Germany, many elderly are engaged in volunteer work, e.g. reading with primary school pupil, or sports – e.g. soccer coaches, often organized in non-profit associations (“Vereine”) which are widely spread and very common throughout the country.
Many well educated senior citizens join university again, special classes for the elderly. And as CrazyChineseFamily says, they do tons of sports themselves. Hiking, btw, is very popular – in large groups, organized in contests called “Volkswanderung”, big beer tents with german wurst and stuff at the finish. I once blundered into such an event and got kind of scared…
One striking difference between german and chinese elderly: from 60 sth upwards, german senior citizens prefer to wear beige-colored clothes. Thanks god, not so the Chinese!
Haha, Chinese old ladies definitely like bright colours and bling bling! I think I haven’t been to that neighbourhood center, thanks for the recommendation.
Now that you mention it, I remember meeting once an old Chinese gentleman who spoke very good English because he had been a professor or something. I can’t remember if it was in Shanghai or where.
C. wanted his mum to join some classes instead of looking for a job as she is “bored”, but she doesn’t seem too keen on the idea…
When I was in Turkey, most of the tourists from China (they had a distinctive accent) did not know how to swim. Some attempted a swim with arm bends.
Hiking is popular with the seniors in the UK. Hill running is quite popular with some older men.
That’s true, most Chinese can’t swim. But the Beijingers that do, swim even under zero degrees Celsius, haha.
I used to love seeing the elderly Chinese exercising in China. Walking backwards being one of my favourites. Great post.
Hahaha, yes, walking backwards! It actually makes you use muscles that you usually don’t move, I have tried it sometimes xD
Thanks for the shout out!
Is it more retired people workout more than non retired people still working people? I love to know if they started exercising to health problems later in life and under doctors orders! So many people do. They ignore exercise all their life until problems set in then it’s all exercise and healthy eating! I’m for exercise being a healthy lifestyle all your life, not just under doctors orders or when shit hits the fan!
I guess some working people work out where I can’t see them: inside the gyms :D In parks and street gyms the people are mostly retired. I think they do it as a hobby, not really under doctor’s orders.
I eat pretty healthy but I am not too sporty… I just don’t like exercise hahaha. But I walk all I can!
It’s a good hobby to have!
Walking’s good for ya! Have you tried yoga? I practice online with yogaglo, €18 US a month with very good teachers (Kathryn Budig’s classes are fun!). They offer a free 2 week trail. Tone It Up I’ll think you’ll like too!! 2 crazy girls and their workouts work!
I was also impressed by those old Beijing folks who swam in freezing rivers during winter. I don’t know how they do it though I read interviews where they claim it’s good for their health.
If you can do it and manage to not die then I guess it can be good for your health… you get tougher haha!
Great post! I’ve been trying to write about the dancing old ladies for years but can never put together something that I like. China does old age so much better than we Americans. It’s wonderful to see how much healthier, both mentally and physically, the elderly population is in China than in the states (broadly speaking, of course). We just put them out to pasture, to live out their final days with much less connection to their family, with much weaker social groups and support networks than they do in China – we just give them pocket change and health care and move on with our nuclear family lives.
I think the big question is how will this population problem caused by the one child policy effect elder care 20 years from now when the enormous burden of raising a family, financially supporting your parents and somehow bank rolling your child’s 3 million rmb house for marriage will effect this very long and traditional way of caring for old people. Cracks are forming in the new modern China.
Also, WHERE IS THAT NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA PLACE GOING TO OPEN THIS WEEKEND?!? You’re such a pizza tease.
I think in a few years businesses related to old people will boom in China (nursery homes, nurses specialized in home care, etc), because I can’t see how families in which both husband and wife are single children can take care of 4 elders plus their 1-2 own children. Apart from that I hope society in general gets past this “you cannot get married without an apartment” nonsense. Less overpriced properties and more affordable and normalised rents!
I wrote the pizza info in your blog :D
Got it, thanks! I’ll be checking it out soon. I so miss real pizza.
Yeah, I’m of a different opinion on the housing thing….maybe the house for marriage requirement will go away but I see China being one of the highest housing price markets for decades to come (unless major reforms – which I can’t see the rich accepting). It will develop more into the modern western version where 50% of the population owns everything in big cities and the other half rents. Too much capitalism, too much money, too many people. I think the landlord class is back in full force :(
Well, I think walking the dog (any form of walks really) should be considered good enough exercise for elderly folks. It depends on your body, and how you use your body when you are younger, like now. I am seeing a bunch of folks in my office in their 30s now who overdid their workouts and permanently damaged their joints and whatnot. They probably won’t be doing much exercise when they retire.
Everything is good… when done in moderation. Including working out…
Haha, yes, of course it depends, I don’t think I will start suddenly being a gymnast at 60 if I wasn’t before, so the old people in the parks surely exercise according to what they are used to and comfortable with.
There has to be a healthy middle point between being a couch potato and damaging your joints because of too much workout!
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