潜行狙击

A |     Editor's Note:
With China's population of seniors over 60 surpassing 300 million, ensuring a happy and fulfilling life for all seniors has become a pressing issue for both families and the nation. How can the new generation of seniors in China break away from traditional norms and embrace a different lifestyle, supported by AI technology, multiculturalism and an elder-friendly society? 
The series "Old Age, New Trends" explores emerging trends in the silver economy, creative social norms among senior citizens and innovative eldercare services. It examines the opportunities and challenges presented by an aging society, highlighting the diverse lifestyles of seniors and the booming eldercare industry in China. Beneath these new trends lies a reflection of Chinese modernization, which aims to provide more secure systems and dignified lives for its senior population.

    Chinese elderly tourists pose for a photo during a trip to Antarctica. Photo: Courtesy of Zhang XinyuanThe camera moves across ice and water of Greenland before settling on a group of travelers speaking Putonghua. Many are retired. They have come a long way from China to a place that, for much of their working lives, belonged more to maps and documentaries than to any realistic travel plan.
Polar journeys require money, good health and patience for long flights and itineraries that may change with the weather. Yet on ships bound for Antarctica, and tours reaching into the Arctic, retired teachers, doctors, researchers and business managers are becoming easier to find. 
After decades scheduled around work and family, they now possess something that was once just as scarce as money: uninterrupted time.
By the end of 2025, China had 323.38 million people aged 60 or above, accounting for 23 percent of its population, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Their incomes, health and family circumstances vary enormously, and polar travelers remain a small, relatively affluent group. Still, their choices bring one change into sharp focus: For some among this new generation of retirees, growing older no longer means simply drawing the boundaries of life inward. It may also be a chance to return to journeys postponed for decades.
Behind every such journey lies a practical calculation: Is the body ready? Is the expense manageable? Can family responsibilities be set aside long enough? The answers are reshaping both travel products and ideas about life after work. At the farthest reaches of the map, some Chinese retirees are asking a new question: With their careers behind them and years still ahead, where do they want to go next?
No longer waiting
In early 2025, 63-year-old He Man stood on a snow-covered slope at Port Charcot in Antarctica and looked back toward the sea. 
The Silver Endeavour, the ship that had brought her there, had shrunk to a white speck against the blue water. Penguins wandered nearby. "Standing there, I suddenly realized how small I was - and how small my problems were," she told the Global Times.
It was a journey He Man had postponed for most of her adult life. Before retiring, she was a deputy chief physician at the dental center of Shenzhen People's Hospital in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province. During her 38-year medical career, most days she got up at 6 am, arrived at the hospital around 7 and began seeing patients at 8. On busy days, patients queued up outside her consulting room and she could barely stop for a drink of water.
During the last 20 years of her career, she had no more than 15 days of annual leave each year. Once time was set aside for caring for elderly relatives and looking after her child, what remained was enough only for short trips. She had visited several countries in Europe and North America, but Antarctica remained beyond reach.
"Antarctica had always been a dream, but I never really dared to imagine going," she said. The possibility became real only after friends from university made the journey in 2023 and 2024 and encouraged her to follow. By then, she had retired at 60. More important than anything else, she said, was that her time was finally her own.
In October 2024, she booked a place on an expedition ship carrying about 200 passengers. She went with her husband, a neighboring couple and another couple with whom they often traveled, forming a group of six. 
The early-booking cruise fare exceeded 150,000 yuan ($22,250) per person. She and her husband later paid another 40,000 yuan each to upgrade their flights to business class.
"On a journey this long, at our age, we should treat ourselves well," she said. The flights between China and South America alone took more than 30 hours. The entire journey eventually lasted 41 days, combining an 11-day Antarctic cruise with visits to Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Chile. "Since we had flown so far, we wanted to see it all in one go."
The journey began with a lesson in polar uncertainty. To catch a period of calmer weather across the Drake Passage, the ship moved its scheduled departure from noon to 6 am. 
The couple reached the port in Chile before dawn after barely sleeping, only to learn that replenishment and repairs had taken longer than expected. The weather window closed, and the captain diverted through the Beagle Channel while waiting two days for conditions to improve.
The retired doctor did not regard the delay as time lost. Marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists and polar historians delivered lectures on board throughout the day, while passengers watched the fjords outside. "There were many older people on the ship. We had time, and nobody was really in a hurry," she said.
When she finally stepped onto the Antarctic snow, she said she was so overwhelmed that she wanted to cry. The trip did not remove the pressures waiting for her at home, but it changed the scale on which she viewed them. 
"When I feel stressed or upset now, I think of Antarctica," she said. "Life is only so long. Don't hold yourself too tightly. Let go when you should."
    Scenery of Antarctica Photo: Courtesy of Zhang XinyuanBeyond one journey
According to He Man, people aged 60 or above accounted for more than half of the passengers on board, while Chinese travelers also made up more than half. After returning home, some of the travelers from Shenzhen created a WeChat group, while others had already begun discussing their next destination.
Travel agencies specializing in expedition cruises have noticed the same pattern. Zhang Xinyuan, founder and CEO of Newayer Cruises, told the Global Times that the company entered the Antarctic market in 2008 and sent its first group the following year. It has since served approximately 6,000 travelers on trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. 
Among its customers, more than 65 percent are aged over 50, with those between 55 and 65 forming the largest group.
The makeup of that group has changed. Before 2020, Zhang said, most of the agency's polar customers were private business owners, senior executives and their family members. In recent years, the professional backgrounds of its customers have become more varied, with retired teachers, doctors, researchers and managers from public institutions increasingly represented. Retired women traveling alone have also become more visible.
Their journeys do not necessarily end after one polar voyage. Zhang once regarded Antarctica as a once-in-a-lifetime destination, but found that some customers continued on to the Arctic, the Galapagos Islands or wildlife reserves in Africa. 
She cited a recently retired couple who booked trips to both Antarctica and the Arctic. While still aboard the Arctic cruise, they asked to reserve places on a southern Africa itinerary planned for the following year.
Industry data suggest that this is a growing, though still expensive, segment of the travel market. During the 2024-25 Antarctic season, Chinese nationals accounted for 10 percent of passengers traveling with operators belonging to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, or IAATO, the second-largest share after the US. 
In the 2025-26 season, IAATO operators recorded 85,195 visitors who landed in Antarctica and another 27,217 cruise-only passengers. The association said China had seen the greatest post-pandemic increase among the main sources of Antarctic travelers. 
Data released by Tongcheng Travel offer a closer view of the high-end market. From January to September 2025, travelers aged between 50 and 70 accounted for more than 70 percent of users booking outbound luxury cruises on the platform. Among customers purchasing polar cruise products priced above 100,000 yuan, more than 90 percent were classified by the company as silver travelers.
As the customer base changes, the product is changing with it. Zhang said the longest flights, rather than the cruise itself, often present the greatest physical challenge. On board, travelers can decide whether to join shore landings, hikes or Zodiac cruises according to their physical fitness and health condition. 
At Newayer Cruises, travelers aged between 75 and 80 are generally asked to provide medical documentation and travel with a family member. Its group products include emergency medical and evacuation insurance, while tour leaders accompany passengers from departure.
The agency has also added Chinese-language services and meals familiar to Chinese passengers, while leaving more space in itineraries rather than packing each day with activities. Flexibility is needed for reasons beyond the traveler's own health. 
    A ship sails among icebergs in Antarctica. Photo: VCGThe Arctic can wait
Polar travel occupies the expensive outer edge of a much broader change in how older Chinese people spend their time. By the end of 2025, China had 323.38 million people aged 60 or above, accounting for 23 percent of the population. Those aged 65 or above numbered 223.65 million, or 15.9 percent. 
The National Bureau of Statistics noted that people aged between 60 and 64 made up a relatively large part of the older population, and that many were still healthy and participated in social activities. 
Travel is becoming one outlet for this age group. Data cited by the National Development and Reform Commission show that older travelers account for more than 20 percent of China's total tourist numbers. 
Du Peng, dean of the School of Population and Health and director of the Institute of Gerontology at Renmin University of China, noted in a CCTV interview that more than 20 million people would enter old age each year over the following decade. Compared with earlier generations, he said, many would be better educated, assess their own health more positively and use the internet with greater ease. 
Policy is beginning to respond to this more varied picture of old age. A State Council document on developing the silver economy calls for replacing rigid age restrictions on travel with assessments based more closely on health, while expanding travel insurance and strengthening consumer protection. 
Still, the retirees boarding polar ships should not be treated as a portrait of all 323 million older Chinese people. They are a relatively small group able to meet three demanding conditions at once: sufficient savings, good health and control over their time.
Therefore, what these polar travelers demonstrate is not that every retirement should become an expensive adventure. Rather, they show that later life is becoming less uniform: rest and care remain essential, but for some people, retirement may also contain study, creative work, new friendships and journeys once postponed by jobs and family obligations.
Back in Shenzhen, He Man now divides her Xiaohongshu (RedNote) posts between dental-health advice and notes from her travels. Antarctica has been crossed off the list, but the list itself continues to grow. 
She is considering a trip to see the animal migration in Africa and another to watch the aurora in Iceland. The Arctic is lower down on her list.
The Arctic can wait. This time, the delay is hers to decide.

。    　　温州8月24日电(胡丰盛 叶凝碧 杨世朋)20多名知名企业家、专家，10多个部门负责人，围坐一堂。

B | 　　这是日前浙江温州数安大厦会议室里的座谈场景。三个小时，谈论的话题聚焦在：温州如何打造人工智能创新发展先行市、AI示范应用第一城。　　人工智能时代，温州凭何先行，又向何处去？思维的碰撞，激荡出清晰的战略强音。　　国家层面系统推进“人工智能+”行动，开启中国特色智能化发展新篇章；浙江省委明确提出，把握好创新浙江建设正遇上人工智能这个大时代，让人工智能成为最鲜明标识、最核心支撑。　　风口之下，温州把握人工智能这一“最大确定性”，在决胜未来中落子布局，成立市级人工智能局，构建“3412”工作体系，打造人工智能创新发展先行市、AI示范应用第一城。

C | 　　“人工智能不仅是一个行业，更是一个时代；AI不只是一条赛道，更是所有赛道的底座。”召集此次座谈会的浙江省委常委、温州市委书记张振丰表示，温州将系统推动“八个先行”，提速打造人工智能创新发展最优生态，诚邀天下英才来温逐梦AI、共创未来。东南Token运营中心启动仪式。温州市委宣传部供图　　向下扎根 “先”在夯底座　　对于温州来说，建设人工智能创新发展先行市，首先要想清楚：为什么能前行，“先”在哪里？　　温州的“先”，不在追风口，而在找自己的风口。　　作为全国唯一全面承接六项国家数据基础设施建设试点的“大满贯”城市，温州已归集公共数据超1500亿条，落地司法、医保等54类全国性数据源。这份“家底”，足够殷实。　　温州的另一张牌，是产业。电气、鞋服、汽车零部件、泵阀、智能装备、生命健康等特色产业集群根深叶茂，“5+5+N”现代产业体系完备，为AI落地筑牢基石。

D | 　　当海量数据遇上真实产业，温州的先行一步，便有了扎实的底气。　　这份优势，被在外打拼的温商敏锐捕捉。飞科电器董事长李丐腾就评价，家乡在发展人工智能上有得天独厚的优势，是AI落地最宝贵的“试验田”。

E | 　　温州提出的“八个先行”，相当一部分对准夯实基础底座。　　合规保障先行，解决企业“不敢用”的问题。温州将构建数据安全流通与AI产业发展的协同体系，建立数据跨域流转全过程记录和审计机制，争取开展数据跨境流动便利化试点，探索“政府+行业+市场”多元共治模式，成为全国AI企业的合规“首选地”。　　其次，是Token服务先行。企业用得起，AI才能真正推开。当前，人工智能竞争正加速从“模型参数竞赛”“算力规模比拼”，转向“Token生产效率”与“Token使用成本”的综合较量。　　温州正在打造的Token服务闭环生态，有望成为“取胜之匙”——上游有绿电支撑，清洁能源装机占比超45%，海上风电资源占浙江半壁江山；中游有平台赋能，打造“词元天下”一站式服务平台，接入100余款主流大模型，注册用户突破6500人；下游有场景落地，依托制造业及海陆空丰富的应用场景，打造AI算力服务高地。　　“要把AI能力像水和电一样输送给中小企业，降低使用门槛。”火山引擎通用行业温州地区负责人李松泽坦言，搭建公共服务平台，能让更多企业分享到AI的技术红利。

F | 　　数据是人工智能的战略性资源，数据质量决定了AI能做多强、能走多远、能融多深。　　因此，温州提出数据供给先行，畅通“数成料、料成材、材成器”数据价值链，构建“采、存、洗、标、评、用”一体化数据工场，打造全国高质量数据的重要生产地和标准输出地。　　向上生长 “先”在重应用　　创新不拥抱AI，就拿不到未来的“入场券”。产业不融入AI，就换不了转型的“新引擎”。　　作为制造业强市，温州拥有AI赋能各行各业的广阔场景。　　鞋服+AI，搭上柔性智造的快车；新能源+AI，抓住能源数字化的赛道；眼镜嫁接AI，追赶智能穿戴的体验升级；电气嵌入AI，融入智慧能源的大网；汽摩配嫁接AI，跻身车路云协同的供应链；宠物用品拥抱AI，跟上数字化养宠服务的潮流。　　温州把“场景开放”作为先行之举，坚持“真场景、真问题、真付费、真复制”，开展“AI赋能万企”场景开放专项行动，推行首购首用制度，挖掘一批“小切口、能付费、可复制”项目。　　要让这些场景真正“接得住”AI，关键还在于打通供需之间的语言壁垒。AI行业翻译官，正是两者之间的“粘合剂”。温州让AI行业翻译官免费为企业开展AI就绪度诊断，输出落地方案。　　温州AI行业翻译官叶晓丰深表认同：“这能让AI行业翻译官真正参与进需求诊断、方案设计、资源对接和项目落地的全过程。”　　应用场景背后，模型能力决定了人工智能的应用深度与产业赋能水平。值得关注的是，温州在通用模型竞争中保持清醒，不拼参数规模，而是立足民营企业密集、细分产业鲜明、应用场景丰富等优势，探索“以数育模、以模赋产、模数共振”的特色发展路径。　　在模数共振先行中，温州将聚焦智能电气、汽车零部件、医疗装备等特色优势行业，组建由链主企业牵头、高校院所支撑、AI技术服务商参与的“模数共振”场景创新联合体。

G | 同时，建立行业通识数据集与专识数据集持续迭代机制，建设行业级“模数共振”共享空间，以模数共振撬动产业转型。　　温州在场景与模数上的“先行棋”，与不少企业发展方向不谋而合。

H | “90后”浙江大学在读博士、宇泛智能科技股份有限公司联合创始人郑东，便是其中一位。　　“我们迁入苍南后，正加快汇聚多场景行业数据资源，规划服务超10家行业用户、适配15个以上细分应用场景。”他期待企业产品在市政设施、物业服务、制造业安全生产等领域落地，以本土应用培育产业生态。　　向远拓展 “先”在创生态　　AI时代，城市间的竞争加快转向“育场景、建生态”。　　平台赋能先行，正是对这一趋势的主动回应。　　中国(温州)数安港，目前已布局十大产业社区，推行“三长制”(市直部门领导任“社区长”、区领导任“执行长”、链主企业负责人任“社长”)，配套OPC(一人公司)生态社区，加速培育“来了不想走、走了还想来”的创业沃土。　　基于此，温州将持续深化十大产业社区建设，持续完善“三长制”运行机制，精准匹配赛道资源，并大力引育SOPC(超级一人公司)创业形态，支持AI应用场景需求榜单、企业“微订单”向OPC社区开放。

I | 　　当产业社区里的创新浓度越来越高，人工智能“场景”也慢慢从工厂、园区延伸到社区、家庭。　　今后，温州将推动未来人居先行，向市民提供智慧、健康、创新、文娱等全新人居体验。　　从愿景到现实，温州将走好“设施再造—中试转化—场景落地—应用赋能”四步走路径，制定住建领域场景开放清单，推进在城市更新中布局边缘算力、智能传感、AI智能体等新型基础设施，加快建成一批住建领域高质量数据集，让温州成为“人工智能+未来人居”创新策源地、场景应用示范地、产业生态集聚地。　　跳出“小环境”看“大生态”，温州各县(市、区)均已出台人工智能行动计划，构建“市级统筹、部门协同、县域联动”的工作格局。　　温州提出区域联动先行，推行跨部门、跨区域常态化调度机制，建立统一的企业、模型、应用、终端“四张清单”，打通供需常态化对接通道；统筹基金、空间、场景、数据、算力、模型等资源，建立跨县域要素匹配机制，让好项目“生在数安港、长在全市域”。　　AI落地的回响，吸引一群嗅到机会的年轻人追梦而来。

J | “新生代温州青年就应该敢闯敢拼，我们这支年轻团队将保持进取心态，持续打磨产品。”接受采访时，今年21岁的友学伴(北京)教育科技有限公司创始人唐言为身上透着青春的锐气。这是独属于年轻人的热忱，也恰是AI时代相互成就的开篇。