Investigations into Leisure and Living Conditions of the Aging Populations in China

China has entered the aging society at the turn of the new century primarily on account of 30 years of implementation of Family Planning policy and health care improvement in the last half century. But Chinese government as well as the whole society has not yet been ready to tackle the challenge brought about by its consequence, while fully engaged in keeping up economic growth. This paper reveals the long-forgotten truth of the aging populations in China with special regards to their living conditions and leisure activities. 300 samples were selected and data analyzed about their leisure-related lifestyle and spare time use. Three Chinese provinces have been chosen as survey sites. The Survey in this regard has revealed the shocking differences between city dwellers and rural farmers in China. The gap is paradise and hell. For over half of the aged people in rural China, their living conditions are very poor, who have no access to the social welfare and medical care. On the other hand, most of the aged urban residents can enjoy good pension benefits only because they were registered as non-agricultural. By investigating into their present state of living conditions, social welfare, leisure activities, and relationship with their children and health status, this paper tries to dig out the causes hidden behind the gap in respect of history, policy, culture, and economy, and explain what leisure means and how it matters for the aging populations of city dwellers and rural farmers in China.
Key Words: Population growth, Aging population, Urban-rural difference, Leisure style

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