https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/500672/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Guangdong, China’s largest regional economy, remained the country’s baby-making powerhouse last year, accounting for roughly one in every eight newborns nationwide even as the overall population declined, according to the latest official demographic breakdown. The northeast continued to record the country’s steepest population drop – with a natural population decline of up to seven per 1,000 people – while parts of central and western China also saw significant demographic deterioration, data... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3372180/why-guangdong-accounts-one-eight-chinas-newborns-births-fall-nationwide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3372180/why-guangdong-accounts-one-eight-chinas-newborns-births-fall-nationwide Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos For decades, China was one of the world’s largest sources of migrant labour. Its workers staffed factories at home and built infrastructure abroad. But demographic decline may eventually force China to contemplate a striking reversal: importing workers on a meaningful scale. That change is not imminent. China still has a vast labour force and substantial youth unemployment. It is investing heavily in industrial automation, extending working lives through a gradual increase in the retirement age,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang One of China’s most outspoken demographers has called for raising childcare subsidies to at least 200,000 yuan (US$29,883) per child – more than 18 times the total offered under the current national scheme – to reverse the decline in births and strengthen the country’s long-term economic competitiveness. James Liang, co-founder of Chinese online travel giant Trip.com Group, who has been vocal about Chinese demographics for years, made the proposal in an article published on Wednesday. Experts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370991/notable-chinese-demographer-calls-18-fold-increase-nations-childcare-subsidies https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370991/notable-chinese-demographer-calls-18-fold-increase-nations-childcare-subsidies Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:02:36 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese centenarian leads a happy, healthy life despite a habit generally considered “unhealthy”, prompting curious reactions online. A 101-year-old great-grandfather in eastern China’s Zhejiang province recently went viral for his love of drinking large amounts of Coca-Cola and Sprite. While young people in China embrace healthy lifestyles – eating foods inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, following low-sugar diets and taking daily footbaths – Lu Shizeng defies these practices yet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3370629/chinese-great-grandfather-101-defies-ageing-daily-diet-coke-sprite-seafood https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3370629/chinese-great-grandfather-101-defies-ageing-daily-diet-coke-sprite-seafood Tue, 13 Oct 2026 02:00:23 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An 86-year-old grandmother in China has become a social media sensation for operating a coffee shop for over a decade – a business she took over from her son in 2015, despite having no experience with coffee at the time. Zhao Qiying, affectionately known as the “Coffee Grandma,” revealed that the shop, located in downtown Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province, was nearly bankrupt due to her son’s lack of business acumen, according to the Peninsular Metropolis News. At that time, Zhao was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3369741/chinese-coffee-grandma-learns-brewing-save-sons-cafe-inspires-female-independence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3369741/chinese-coffee-grandma-learns-brewing-save-sons-cafe-inspires-female-independence Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 60-year-old woman in China has captured attention on social media for giving birth to a baby girl, just two years after welcoming a son. She made the decision to have children at a later stage in life after enduring the loss of her only child four years ago, as reported by the Red Star News. The infant girl, weighing 2.8kg, was born on September 17 through caesarean section at Zhumadian Central Hospital in Henan province, central China. Her mother, identified by the surname Zhang, expressed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3368970/chinese-woman-60-gives-birth-second-child-2-years-sparking-debate https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3368970/chinese-woman-60-gives-birth-second-child-2-years-sparking-debate Sat, 03 Oct 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Primary schools and kindergartens in China are being converted into elderly care facilities, as falling birth rates and a shrinking youth population leave classrooms empty. According to data from the Ministry of Education, primary school admissions and preschool enrolments each fell around 10 per cent in 2025. The total number of educational institutions nationwide declined by over 6 per cent to 440,700 from the year before. Some of these vacant campuses are being repurposed to serve a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368988/chinas-birth-rate-falls-vacant-schools-are-transformed-aged-care-facilities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368988/chinas-birth-rate-falls-vacant-schools-are-transformed-aged-care-facilities Thu, 01 Oct 2026 01:43:59 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Even though he was an experienced swimmer and a medical check-up showed he had no condition that made exercise unsafe, 66-year-old Zhao Xin said he was stopped by staff at a local swimming pool from swimming with his grandson because of his age. “The pool’s staff said it wasn’t able to mitigate the risks of exercise for older people, and that if it admitted swimmers over 65, local authorities would penalise it,” Zhao said. “After I retired, I found that many times I want to spend money but am... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities will offer a “very attractive” proposal and policy support to encourage schools without survival issues to merge amid the shrinking student population, according to official sources. The government said it might allow aided schools and semi-private Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools to merge and operate across two campuses, though all arrangements remained subject to the forthcoming announcement of further details. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367765/hong-kong-offer-attractive-merger-deals-schools-beyond-those-struggling https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367765/hong-kong-offer-attractive-merger-deals-schools-beyond-those-struggling Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:35:12 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s hopes for a consumption boom may depend less on stimulus or wealthy households and more on improving living standards for 131 million migrant workers in its cities – a shift that could unlock spending equivalent to about 0.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to HSBC. In a report released on Thursday, analysts at the bank projected that the world would add about 1.2 billion middle- and high-income consumers by 2050, with Asia accounting for 77 per cent of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367166/improving-migrant-workers-living-standards-key-boosting-chinese-consumption-hsbc https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367166/improving-migrant-workers-living-standards-key-boosting-chinese-consumption-hsbc Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:18:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 106-year-old man in eastern China has inspired many online with his unconventional lifestyle and enduring marriage. Wang Dinggao, from Rui’an in Zhejiang province, remains remarkably independent despite experiencing some hearing loss, according to the mainland media outlet Daxiang News. In contrast to most people, he adheres to a “reverse schedule”: sleeping around 4 or 5pm, waking at 1am, enjoying breakfast at 3am before embarking on his morning walk. His son has adapted to this unusual... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3367118/chinese-man-106-embraces-reverse-schedule-celebrated-alongside-wife-model-couple https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3367118/chinese-man-106-embraces-reverse-schedule-celebrated-alongside-wife-model-couple Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:14:03 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Shanghai, grappling with one of China’s highest rates of ageing and lowest rates of fertility, has made maternal care completely free in its latest move to encourage childbirth. The city government rolled out a pioneering policy on Tuesday that waives all out‑of‑pocket expenses for maternal care, from pregnancy screenings through childbirth to postnatal follow‑ups. The policy builds on – and goes beyond – a central government commitment to make basic services for hospital delivery free to all... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366914/bid-boost-births-shanghai-waives-out-pocket-expenses-maternal-care https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366914/bid-boost-births-shanghai-waives-out-pocket-expenses-maternal-care Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:04:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has reached a pivotal inflection point. The doubling of its offshore investments to 580 billion yuan (US$86 billion) over three years – now comprising 15.23 per cent of its total assets – signals not merely an incremental shift in asset allocation, but also a strategic recalibration necessitated by demographic pressures and diminishing domestic returns. For Hong Kong, this transformation represents perhaps the most consequential opportunity to cement... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366355/hong-kong-must-position-itself-bridge-chinas-outbound-funds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366355/hong-kong-must-position-itself-bridge-chinas-outbound-funds Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo There is little in common between Daron Acemoglu and Xi Jinping. As a strong advocate of the Western model of liberal democracy, Acemoglu, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, may be considered the ideological opposite of the Chinese president. But on a crucial point about China’s future, the two may, strangely, be on the same page: an across-the-board introduction of cutting-edge technology may enhance productivity and maintain economic growth. It may counteract the negative... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3366015/why-chinas-shrinking-population-may-be-blessing-not-curse https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3366015/why-chinas-shrinking-population-may-be-blessing-not-curse Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A mahjong parlour owner in central China paid compensation of 19,000 yuan (US$2,800) following a failed first aid attempt on an elderly customer but received a refund after government intervention. On August 17, a man in his 60s, surnamed Luo, visited the mahjong parlour in Hunan province and passed out while resting in a chair. The shop’s owner, Xiao Aihua, sensed something was wrong with Luo and approached to administer first aid. Believing that Luo had suffered from heatstroke, she dragged... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365767/chinese-mahjong-club-owner-pays-us2800-over-failed-first-aid-then-gets-refunded https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365767/chinese-mahjong-club-owner-pays-us2800-over-failed-first-aid-then-gets-refunded Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Wu Boyao was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 26 years ago. Now 86, he lives with his wife and one of their two daughters in a suburb straddling the border between the eastern Chinese cities of Shanghai and Suzhou. Originally from Shanghai, they moved to the area – which is administered by Suzhou – in search of a larger home. The trade-off was that Wu would no longer qualify for home care service sessions that were almost free. A decade ago, Shanghai was one of the first cities in China to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365841/will-new-insurance-scheme-get-chinas-ageing-population-long-term-care-it-needs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365841/will-new-insurance-scheme-get-chinas-ageing-population-long-term-care-it-needs Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Beijing should drastically raise its nationwide childcare subsidies to stave off a deepening birth crisis, according to Chinese scholars, who warned the country’s fertility rate could soon fall to the lowest in the world unless action was taken. The government should learn from the examples of Singapore and South Korea – two nearby countries facing similarly severe demographic challenges, which have both introduced enhanced pronatalist policies to turn around the situation, they added. Beijing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365606/china-needs-600-child-subsidy-rise-prevent-deeper-birth-crisis-scholars https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365606/china-needs-600-child-subsidy-rise-prevent-deeper-birth-crisis-scholars Sat, 29 Aug 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 90-year-old woman in Beijing is devoted to caring for her husband with Alzheimer’s disease, determined to safeguard not only his health but also his dignity. Wen Bo and her husband, who is two years older, first met as secondary school classmates. After several years of long-distance courtship, they married in 1960. Together, they raised two sons and embraced an active lifestyle for decades, engaging in activities like swimming and walking, as well as taking occasional trips throughout China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365313/chinese-wife-90-inspires-millions-preserving-alzheimers-husbands-dignity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365313/chinese-wife-90-inspires-millions-preserving-alzheimers-husbands-dignity Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Your report, “China’s state agencies are hiring retirees as the workforce rapidly ages” (July 19), highlights an intriguing response to one of Asia’s defining demographic challenges. China’s universities, hospitals and government agencies are discovering something societies often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3364813/solution-asias-ageing-workforce-could-be-sitting-home-retired https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3364813/solution-asias-ageing-workforce-could-be-sitting-home-retired Sun, 23 Aug 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man from eastern China has spent a decade travelling with his partially paralysed wife, claiming that life on the road has made her “100 times” more spirited. Liu Peijin, 69, a former serviceman from Weifang in Shandong province, dedicated 18 years to the military, much of that time away from his wife, who was his primary school classmate, as reported by Hongxing News. As newlyweds, they dreamed of exploring China together in retirement. However, in 2010, complications from diabetes left Liu’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364450/die-road-not-hospital-chinese-man-takes-paralysed-wife-epic-road-trip https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364450/die-road-not-hospital-chinese-man-takes-paralysed-wife-epic-road-trip Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:12:30 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man in central China has completed more than 200 trips to remote mountain villages in a year, visiting elderly parents on behalf of their children who work and live far from home or overseas. Tian Rui, 39, from Yichang in Hubei province, is a former rural courier who now operates a small convenience store, according to Jiupai News. Years spent delivering parcels through scattered mountain communities provided Tian with a deep understanding of the winding roads. They also unveiled a quiet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364166/chinese-family-bridge-makes-200-mountain-trips-yearly-connect-elderly-overseas-children https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364166/chinese-family-bridge-makes-200-mountain-trips-yearly-connect-elderly-overseas-children Sun, 16 Aug 2026 02:19:31 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 111-year-old grandmother in eastern China has captured the attention of social media by attributing her remarkable longevity to simple habits, such as viewing housework as a form of daily exercise. Wang Gaiying lives in Rugao, Jiangsu province, which is renowned as one of the country’s “longevity capitals.” As of February, the area was home to 672 centenarians, according to the Jianghai Evening News. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Soil Science in Nanjing have... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3363358/111-year-old-chinese-grandma-reveals-secret-daily-workout-leading-her-longevity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3363358/111-year-old-chinese-grandma-reveals-secret-daily-workout-leading-her-longevity Sat, 08 Aug 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Zongshuai Fan Zongshuai Fan China’s Politburo has just set the country’s economic priorities for the second half of the year. The meeting took place against the backdrop of gross domestic product growth slowing to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, its weakest since late 2022, and an increasingly K-shaped economy: strong exports and fast-growing hi-tech industries on one side, with weak domestic consumption, softening investment and slower growth elsewhere on the other. The official readout did not describe the economy as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3362585/chinas-economic-shift-may-hinge-what-migrant-workers-do-next https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3362585/chinas-economic-shift-may-hinge-what-migrant-workers-do-next Wed, 05 Aug 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen As China drafts policy to open the door wider to foreign schools that provide domestic work training in an effort to improve the skills of Chinese carers, countries with talent and expertise in related vocational education, like the Philippines, may stand to benefit. But industry insiders say vocational prejudices and Beijing’s strained ties with Manila may present hurdles. Last week, China gazetted a policy document to boost the supply and quality of home services. Among other measures, foreign... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362552/could-filipinos-benefit-china-opens-door-wider-foreign-domestic-work-schools https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362552/could-filipinos-benefit-china-opens-door-wider-foreign-domestic-work-schools Sat, 01 Aug 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Fan Hou Fan Hou China unveiled its 15th five-year plan for national health on July 7. Below are the key targets outlined in the blueprint. See original document in Chinese: 国民健康“十五五”规划 by scmp https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3361930/chinas-five-year-public-health-blueprint https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3361930/chinas-five-year-public-health-blueprint Mon, 27 Jul 2026 03:26:10 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Lu, a former professor of electrical engineering, recently stepped down from his job at a university in southwest China’s Sichuan province after hitting retirement age. But, in a break from normal practice, the 62-year-old’s long career at the school is far from over. In September, Lu will return to the faculty – this time as a research fellow. “The university hoped that I could continue working on some of the projects I haven’t finished, because I am one of the most experienced professors,” Lu... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360972/chinas-state-agencies-are-hiring-retirees-workforce-rapidly-ages https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360972/chinas-state-agencies-are-hiring-retirees-workforce-rapidly-ages Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press With one of their arms raised and the other lowered, hundreds of people move every morning like birds spreading their wings at the heart of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. They are performing a movement in tai chi, a physical and philosophical practice developed more than 300 years ago that continues to resonate in China today. “The environment is great and the air is good too,” Ye Guirong, 64, says. “You can see we’re surrounded by trees.” Most practitioners are retirees in their 60s and beyond.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:15:05 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Even a significant recovery in China’s fertility rate would still fail to slow down the country’s ageing process before 2050, a new report has found, though achieving higher birth rates remains critical to preventing a more severe crisis later. “A rapid increase in China’s ageing population rate before 2050 is inevitable,” wrote analysts led by Li Xunlei, chief economist at Zhongtai Securities, in the report. Under an optimistic scenario in which China’s total fertility rate rose to above 1.3... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360816/chinas-population-ageing-seen-inevitable-2050-why-push-more-births https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360816/chinas-population-ageing-seen-inevitable-2050-why-push-more-births Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:30:10 +0000 Charles Ng Charles Ng A profound demographic and economic shift is sweeping through Asia, quietly rewriting the rules of national development. The traditional paradigm of treating population ageing as a passive fiscal burden is being dismantled as Beijing makes the “silver economy” and proactive ageing strategies the pillars of national security and economic growth. China’s population aged 60 and above reached 320 million last year, accounting for 23 per cent of its citizenry. This is projected to climb to 400... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359770/how-hong-kong-can-lead-longevity-medicine-silver-economy-grows https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359770/how-hong-kong-can-lead-longevity-medicine-silver-economy-grows Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese clinic has been punished by authorities after it extracted the 12 remaining teeth from a 63-year-old man with high blood pressure and heart disease, and withdrew all the money from his accounts. The man, surnamed Li, from Baoji, northwestern China’s Shaanxi province, went to the Datuanyuan Dental Clinic to have an aching tooth checked last September. Li recently told Chinese media outlets that he believed the clinic’s ads, such as “Get a dental implant in the morning and eat meat in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3360043/chinese-clinic-extracts-12-teeth-man-after-he-complains-ache-one-tooth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3360043/chinese-clinic-extracts-12-teeth-man-after-he-complains-ache-one-tooth Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:27:16 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen The Communist Party’s membership grew at a slower pace and its average age continued to climb last year, according to official data on the world’s second-biggest political party. In line with tradition, the data was released on the day before July 1, the date of the party’s founding in 1921. The party had 101 million members at the end of 2025, an increase of 1 per cent from the previous year, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Central Committee’s Organisation Department, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3358914/chinas-communist-party-grows-more-slowly-its-members-are-getting-older https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3358914/chinas-communist-party-grows-more-slowly-its-members-are-getting-older Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:07:36 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 77-year-old man in southeastern China has spent nearly six decades turning homesickness, hardship and family duty into letters sent across the sea. Jiang Mingdian, from Quanzhou in Fujian province, is regarded as one of China’s last active professional letter writers, though no public figures show how many still practise the trade. Over 59 years, he has reportedly written more than 100,000 letters for local families to relatives overseas, reaching countries including the Philippines,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3357390/last-professional-letter-writer-chinese-city-pens-100000-missives-over-59-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3357390/last-professional-letter-writer-chinese-city-pens-100000-missives-over-59-years Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma A recent incident in Shenzhen that went viral has put China’s widespread smoking habit under renewed scrutiny, reviving a long-running debate over whether Beijing should raise tobacco taxes for the first time in more than a decade. On a rainy afternoon in April, a woman asked a smoker to put out a cigarette at a busy bus stop where nearly 10 people were waiting. The request led to a heated exchange, with the smoker arguing it was a public space, and ended with him throwing a plastic bottle at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356912/china-has-worlds-largest-smoking-population-it-harming-economy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3356912/china-has-worlds-largest-smoking-population-it-harming-economy Sat, 13 Jun 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A “girlish grandma” from eastern China is taking the internet by storm with her dazzling white hair, colourful outfits and fearless confidence. Yingzi, 74, from Shanghai, has more than two million online followers and often dances or poses on city streets in heels. Her videos have reportedly racked up over 100 million views at their peak. On her social media, Yingzi shares the secrets behind her youthful figure. She says it starts with “sticking to your style,” choosing clothes that young people... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3355834/china-grandma-74-gains-online-fame-fashion-sense-youthful-spirit-inspires-confidence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3355834/china-grandma-74-gains-online-fame-fashion-sense-youthful-spirit-inspires-confidence Sun, 07 Jun 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Wei-Jun Jean Yeung,Paul Yip Wei-Jun Jean Yeung,Paul Yip Across East Asia, societies are becoming richer, healthier and more educated, yet fewer people feel able or willing to have families and raise children. Low fertility plagues high-income societies, particularly in East Asia, where the total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below one birth per woman, well under the replacement level of 2.1 births. While many countries have dedicated considerable resources and effort to reversing this trend, the results have been somewhat disappointing. The pairing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3354977/east-asias-population-challenge-isnt-just-about-raising-birth-rates https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3354977/east-asias-population-challenge-isnt-just-about-raising-birth-rates Sun, 31 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A controversial Chinese app with the allegedly offensive name “dead or alive” has been transformed into a government-backed safety tool. The app, called Sileme, or “Are you dead?”, went viral in January because of its straightforward name that challenged the traditional taboo notions about death. Its function was extremely simple. The sign-in app features a giant green button on the screen. A person only needs to touch the button every day to confirm their “alive” status. If they fail to check... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354904/controversial-china-dead-or-alive-app-transforms-valuable-personal-safety-tool https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354904/controversial-china-dead-or-alive-app-transforms-valuable-personal-safety-tool Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Emma Ma,Mandy Zuo Emma Ma,Mandy Zuo For the first time in records dating back to 1949, China is now home to more people aged 65 and above than children, the latest official data showed, underscoring the country’s deepening demographic pressure. By November last year, 15.87 per cent of China’s roughly 1.4 billion-strong population was aged at least 65, compared with 15.25 per cent aged between 0 to 14, according to the results of a nationwide sample survey released late last week. That meant China’s traditional family-based model... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3354772/china-now-home-more-people-over-65-children-official-survey-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3354772/china-now-home-more-people-over-65-children-official-survey-finds Mon, 25 May 2026 23:00:04 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A flat-owning Shanghai grandpa who lives in a supermarket to avoid loneliness gave his home to a nanny he met at the shop in the face of his son’s disapproval. Qiangming, 78, has been living in the staff entrance of the supermarket in Shanghai for nearly a decade. He sleeps on a mat, rests in the supermarket’s dining area during the day and carries 50,000 yuan (US$7,400) cash in his pocket, plus a DV recorder. He describes himself as a drifter, not a beggar. The 20sqm flat he owns nearby is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/article/3353522/chinese-man-78-lives-supermarket-despite-owning-flat-offers-property-new-friend-care https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/article/3353522/chinese-man-78-lives-supermarket-despite-owning-flat-offers-property-new-friend-care Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s first-quarter marriage registrations fell to their lowest level for the same period since 2020, as the country continued to grapple with persistent demographic challenges amid a declining birth rate and a shrinking population. In the first three months of this year, 1.697 million couples in China tied the knot, down 6.24 per cent from the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Saturday. The figure marked the lowest first-quarter total since... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3353108/chinas-marriage-numbers-plunge-covid-era-low-population-woes-deepen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3353108/chinas-marriage-numbers-plunge-covid-era-low-population-woes-deepen Mon, 11 May 2026 06:01:39 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China and the United States drove a rapid accumulation of global debt in the first quarter of 2026, a trend that could spread amid war in the Middle East and mounting geopolitical tensions, a major finance industry body said. Global debt hit a record high of nearly US$353 trillion in the first quarter, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), with a US$4.4 trillion rise from January to March, driven largely by government borrowing and marking the fastest increase since the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3352794/china-us-drive-global-debt-record-353-trillion-iran-war-adds-pressure-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3352794/china-us-drive-global-debt-record-353-trillion-iran-war-adds-pressure-report Thu, 07 May 2026 12:08:41 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang A top US medical anthropologist believes the United States and China must transcend geopolitical tensions and spur a global revolution in “social technology” to survive the looming ageing crisis. Arthur Kleinman, a physician-anthropologist with joint appointments at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, proposed that the US learn from China’s recent efforts to build a long-term care insurance system, while in return China can take lessons from the US nursing home model. “We have never... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3352222/ageing-dilemma-why-robots-cant-save-us-china-us-cooperation-might https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3352222/ageing-dilemma-why-robots-cant-save-us-china-us-cooperation-might Sat, 02 May 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 107-year-old woman, dubbed the “age-defying granny,” has trended on mainland social media for her sound health and sharpness of mind. Centenarian Ding Guijuan lives in Cixi, a small city in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The local media outlet, Love Cixi, which is operated by the municipal propaganda authority, reported her story. In the coverage in mid-April Ding shared her longevity tips and sent good wishes to her fans. According to Ding’s daughter, Chen Xingchao, 84, physical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351793/china-vegetarian-woman-107-captivates-internet-robust-health-and-sharp-memory https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351793/china-vegetarian-woman-107-captivates-internet-robust-health-and-sharp-memory Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s population is projected to fall by about 60 million over the next decade, threatening economic activity in wealthier coastal provinces and putting growing pressure on the public pension system, according to recent analyst reports. Research firm Rhodium Group estimated that the world’s second-most populous country, after India, could lose the equivalent of nearly France’s entire population over the coming 10 years. In a nation of 1.41 billion people, a decline of this scale would weigh on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3351597/china-faces-france-sized-demographic-loss-threatens-coastal-growth-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3351597/china-faces-france-sized-demographic-loss-threatens-coastal-growth-analysts Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Shanghai grandmother has been nicknamed the “telephone booth princess” for persisting in her post as a public phone booth manager for 33 years. Shen Yuxiu, who is in her 80s, manages the city’s last staffed booth. She looks after two very old landline phones. Everyday she arrives at 9am and stays until 8pm. Despite the fact that the booth is located on Fuzhou Road, which connects Shanghai’s two hottest tourist spots, The Bund and People’s Square, Shen said that she only earns two yuan (3 US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350959/phone-booth-princess-china-grandma-dedicates-33-years-managing-public-telephone-booth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350959/phone-booth-princess-china-grandma-dedicates-33-years-managing-public-telephone-booth Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Despite China’s stronger-than-expected first-quarter economic growth, young jobseekers found little respite as March brought a rise in youth unemployment across urban areas, snapping six straight months of decline. The jobless rate for the 16-to-24 age group, excluding students, edged up to 16.9 per cent in March from 16.1 per cent in February, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. The job market, weighed down by deflationary pressures and external... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350813/chinas-youth-unemployment-crunch-deepens-record-graduation-season-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350813/chinas-youth-unemployment-crunch-deepens-record-graduation-season-looms Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:53:36 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Qiu has been scouring Shanghai’s labour agencies for a job for her 58-year-old father – a former mechanic from neighbouring Jiangsu province caught in a frustrating limbo. While he is still years away from the official retirement age for rural migrants, his struggle to find work underscores a paradox in China’s financial hub: even as the city desperately needs more workers to counter a shrinking population, ageing jobseekers are being met with high fees and physical exhaustion. His search... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350484/more-jobs-elderly-shanghai-eyes-senior-labour-force-amid-china-demographic-crisis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350484/more-jobs-elderly-shanghai-eyes-senior-labour-force-amid-china-demographic-crisis Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:00:13 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A brave 89-year-old grandmother climbed from the 27th to the 21st floor on her building’s outer wall after accidentally locking herself in, shocking many people online. The woman in Beijing was spotted stuck outside a residential building’s 26th floor on an afternoon on April 1. A cleaner and a security guard heard her faint sounds from downstairs, looked up and saw her grabbing tightly to the rails that protect air conditioners on the outer wall. They immediately called the police and shouted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349272/china-woman-89-climbs-27th-21st-floor-building-escape-locked-bedroom-goes-viral https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349272/china-woman-89-climbs-27th-21st-floor-building-escape-locked-bedroom-goes-viral Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has signalled a renewed focus on China’s services sector, calling for a demand- and tech-led strategy to reshape growth and create jobs, as policymakers met to chart the path forward. “The focus must be on demand-driven development and reforms as well as empowerment by technologies,” Xi said in a message to a two-day conference on the sector that concluded on Wednesday, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. Highlighting the role of services in tackling some of China’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3349415/xi-jinping-backs-services-sector-power-chinas-next-growth-phase https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3349415/xi-jinping-backs-services-sector-power-chinas-next-growth-phase Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:30:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China is undergoing a profound demographic shift, with its population ageing at a pace and scale unprecedented globally, and the trend has opened up significant opportunities for elderly care and insurance sectors. “This massive and rapidly expanding elderly population should be a major consumer of healthcare services and therapeutics,” Citi Research analyst John Yung said in a report in late March. “The healthcare demands are rigid, long-term and diverse.” Age-friendly products are rapidly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3349000/demographic-shift-fuels-growth-chinas-elderly-care-insurance-sectors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3349000/demographic-shift-fuels-growth-chinas-elderly-care-insurance-sectors Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A troupe of left-behind rural women in central China has gained online fame through group live streams orchestrated by local Gen Z managers. In Junying village in Henan province, more than 20 women with an average age of 60 wear sunglasses and gloves, colourful jackets and dance with props in a disused courtyard. But this is no ordinary square dancing. In group live-streams, the aunties take on the viral dance routines favoured by younger internet users, while viewers send virtual gifts and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000