China repurposes kindergartens into nursing homes amid aging crisis

China is increasingly converting former kindergarten facilities into nursing homes as part of a strategy to address its rapidly aging population and declining birth rates. The trend, highlighted by the state newspaper Global Times, is framed as a creative and forward-thinking approach to participating in the "flourishing silver economy."

This repurposing of educational spaces reflects the demographic challenges China faces, including a population drop of over 2 million in 2023 and projections of more than 400 million citizens over 60 by 2035. The initiative aims to alleviate the strain on families struggling with eldercare, particularly in the context of smaller households resulting from the former one-child policy.

Government funding is reportedly supporting these conversions, with examples like a former kindergarten in Zhejiang province being transformed into a nursing home. This move is presented by state media as a success for the Communist Party system, offering a solution to the growing demand for eldercare services.