On August 21, Beijing's Information Office held a press conference under the "15th Five-Year Plan" series, spotlighting Mentougou District's green transformation strategy. District Mayor Lv Ming led the session, outlining key initiatives and fielding questions from reporters. The district's approach centers on addressing the "seven necessities" and "five areas of well-being" to reshape its urban-rural development landscape.
Deputy District Head Feng Tao highlighted the region's unique demographic and geographic challenges. As an ecological conservation area in western Beijing, Mentougou has 92% mountainous terrain, with 80% of its 396,000 residents concentrated in just 8% of the land. By the end of 2025, the district will have 120,000 residents aged 60 or older, representing 30.3% of the population. This combination of deep aging and declining birth rates has created significant structural pressures on public services, prompting a three-pronged strategy integrating social safety nets, quality improvements, and industrial development.
Building a Distinctive Elderly Care Ecosystem
The district is implementing a differentiated service model for urban and rural senior care, embracing a philosophy of "caring for the elderly as we would for ourselves." By 2030, Mentougou plans to establish a fully operational district-level care guidance center to integrate resources, provide industry leadership, and coordinate emergency response. Five additional town and street care centers will be constructed, joining the existing five to achieve over 75% coverage across the district. Six comprehensive care projects are underway, offering 830 beds and inviting social capital investment with incentives tied to urban renewal policies.
Home-based care is being elevated through the "Silver Age Vitality" initiative, which encourages younger seniors to participate in community governance while creating 15-minute living and learning circles. For the oldest and most vulnerable residents, the district is expanding family care bed programs and smart home modifications, supported by professional training for family caregivers. In mountainous areas, rural neighborhood mutual-aid points are being strengthened with services such as health patrols, emergency support, goods procurement, and emotional companionship.
Institutional care is receiving a solid foundation with the launch of three new facilities in Longquan Town, Tanzhesi Town, and New Town Block 20, adding 1,054 beds. This brings the district to a target of 8.25 beds per 1,000 residents, with 73% of institutional beds designated for nursing care. The district is also restructuring township nursing homes, inviting urban chain operators to manage rural facilities and promote resource sharing across regions.
Pioneering an Integrated Healthcare-Senior Care Model
An integrated approach is being championed through "property management + elderly care," "housekeeping + elderly care," and "platform + elderly care" models, offering affordable services such as meals, bathing, cleaning, and medical assistance. Urban areas are leveraging the National Health Commission's Shilong Hospital and the country's first Healthy Lifestyle Medicine Center to develop rehabilitation and premium health services. Rural regions are capitalizing on ecological and cultural resources to create slow-living experiences, attracting city seniors for tourism-based care while serving local residents. This dual approach positions elderly care as a driver of both social welfare and economic development.
The district is also advancing a five-pronged strategy to achieve healthcare parity between urban and rural areas. First, hospital reform is accelerating through partnerships with top-tier institutions: Tongren Hospital is managing the district hospital, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is overseeing the TCM hospital, and Capital Children's Medical Center is collaborating with the maternal and child health hospital. Second, a four-tier remote diagnostic network is being built, supported by a "five networks, one platform" digital system covering diagnosis, testing, imaging, ECG, and emergency services. Third, primary care is being upgraded through a "five specialty, two comprehensive" medical alliance, with regular rotations of senior specialists to community health centers and the establishment of rural health stations. Fourth, disease prevention and treatment integration is deepening, with initiatives targeting chronic disease management and stroke prevention. Fifth, a "five-bed linkage" mechanism is being developed, coordinating family, nursing home, hospital, and hospice beds to maximize the impact of combined medical and elderly care services.
Moving forward, Mentougou remains dedicated to aligning with Beijing's 15th Five-Year Plan, addressing gaps in service coverage, and enhancing integration across its communities. By embedding healthcare and wellness into the fabric of its mountain landscapes, the district is building a comprehensive, high-quality service system that reflects the unique character of western Beijing and safeguards the well-being of all residents.