China’s ‘longevity city’ may offer road map to country’s greying population

Rugao, or China’s “longevity city”, is home to over 78,000 elderly and more than 500 residents who are over the age of 100. According to the 2020 national census, China’s population is becoming older, with retirees expected to make up one-third of the population by 2050. The trend makes Rugao a potential testing ground for introducing policies on the elderly, whose growing numbers could put pressure on Beijing’s health care spending.