During the Spring Festival holiday, I returned to my hometown of Qingdao in Shandong province and visited the Taikang Qinyuan retirement community. This visit provided a close-up view of the robust development of the senior care industry in this livable coastal city. As a city that has entered a stage of moderate aging, Qingdao's elderly care service system is becoming increasingly comprehensive, guided and promoted by policy support.
Qingdao's Elderly Care Landscape: A Moderately Aging Society with Policy-Driven Growth According to the Qingdao government website, by the end of 2024, the city's permanent resident population of 10.37 million included 2.38 million elderly individuals, representing an aging rate of 23.0%. This figure is 1.9 percentage points higher than the national average, indicating Qingdao has entered a phase of moderate population aging. The demand for elderly care services is strong and exhibits multi-tiered, diverse, and personalized characteristics. The Qingdao municipal government is using policy tools to stimulate both demand growth and supply upgrades. On the demand side, measures such as increasing pensions, raising subsidies for the very old, and enhancing basic living guarantees aim to improve seniors' purchasing power. Policies also encourage consumption, like subsidies guiding rural elderly care service purchases, where seniors aged 70 and above in rural areas enjoy a 40% discount on home-based care services. On the supply side, efforts focus on upgrading facilities by transforming traditional nursing homes and community centers into professional comprehensive care service hubs, expanding the supply of care beds and high-end services, and deepening the integration of medical and elderly care alongside smart technology. According to Qingdao Daily, by the end of 2025, the city had established 297 elderly care institutions, including 180 rated three-star or above, along with 135 comprehensive care service centers at the township/street level and over 1,300 village/community service stations. A total of 80,000 family care beds had been contracted, forming a comprehensive three-tiered network of facilities at the district/city, township/street, and village/community levels.
Taikang Qinyuan: A Case Study in Mature High-End Retirement Living Taikang Qinyuan is located in Chengyang District, known for its beautiful environment and fresh air. During the Spring Festival, the community was decorated with red lanterns and festive characters, creating a strong holiday atmosphere. Upon entering, the ambiance was distinctly different from traditional nursing homes. Several residents were practicing calligraphy and making refrigerator magnets in the lobby, while others were learning electronic keyboard or reading in the activity room. The community also boasts a fully-equipped gym, swimming pool, and library. Residents mentioned their daily schedules are packed with classes and activities, and special events like galas and reunion dinners were organized for the holiday.
Visiting a resident's apartment—a roughly 90-square-meter unit—revealed thoughtful age-friendly design with handrails and emergency call buttons throughout. Meals are provided in a cafeteria with strict nutritional standards, emphasizing low oil and salt. The deep integration of medical care was particularly impressive. The community has its own secondary-level rehabilitation hospital, capable of managing chronic conditions and providing physiotherapy, and has established green-channel partnerships with top-tier hospitals in the city. Furthermore, activity monitoring and other smart devices are ubiquitous, allowing family members to check on residents' well-being anytime. According to the operator, Taikang Qinyuan is part of the Taikang Community series and currently maintains an occupancy rate exceeding 80%. The resident profile primarily consists of local retired officials, intellectuals, and business owners. Monthly fees range from 7,000-8,000 yuan to over 20,000 yuan, covering accommodation and cleaning services.
Trends in Qingdao's Elderly Care Industry: Tiered Services, Med-Care Integration, and Tech Empowerment Leaving Qinyuan, I reflected on how elderly care has evolved far beyond simply "finding a place to live." Several clear trends emerged from my observations. First, service stratification is becoming more defined. From government-supported nursing homes to community-embedded service centers and high-end communities like Taikang Qinyuan, Qingdao has developed a tiered supply system catering to seniors with different income levels and health conditions. Second, the integration of medical and care services is crucial. Whereas past facilities only provided lodging, requiring hospital visits for medical needs, medical resources are now deeply embedded within care services, either through on-site facilities or green-channel hospital partnerships. This is especially vital for the very old and those with limited mobility. Third, technology plays a key enabling role. Smart bracelets, fall detection, and one-button call systems are now standard. The government is also promoting smart elderly care service platforms, potentially enabling future "on-demand" care services as convenient as ordering takeout.
Qingdao's experience demonstrates that addressing an aging population is no longer just a social welfare issue but a comprehensive challenge involving urban governance, industrial upgrading, and social innovation. Leveraging its natural advantages as a livable city and consistent policy support, Qingdao is forging a modern development path for elderly care characterized by universal basic support, diversified supply, integrated medical and care services, and technological empowerment. High-quality communities like Taikang Qinyuan are not only a reflection of upgraded market demand but also provide a mature, replicable model for the industry. As the supply system continues to improve and service models innovate, Qingdao is poised to transform from a merely livable city into a city ideal for aging—a city of well-being and happiness.