On Saturday morning, one day before Chongyang Festival, which celebrates senior citizens in Chinese culture, I joined a group visit to a nursing home in the southern outskirts of Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

About 300 elderly people, in their late 70s to 95, live here, and 60 percent are unable to care for themselves.

Several "young" ones sang songs to welcome us, but most remained silent in their rooms. Two people share each room, and service is provided 24 hours a day.