"Small town life suits Lin Xin. Her yard in the town of Yimianpo, in northeastern China, is one big, sun-soaked garden where the family grows cabbages, carrots, peanuts, and a cornucopia of other fruits and vegetables. Kittens ambush one another from behind shrubs. "This place is well-suited to retirees," she said. "Living in the countryside is truly nice, and comfortable.""
"She and her husband moved to Beijing 20 years ago to chase their dreams and try to cash in on China's booming economy. But the plan was cut short; they moved back to Yimianpo a few years ago to take care of their aging and ailing parents. Meanwhile, Lin's only daughter is in college in the capital, with no plans to return and ambivalent about having kids herself."
Lin Xin returned from Beijing to Yimianpo to care for aging parents while her only daughter studies in the capital and does not plan to return or to have children. Yimianpo used to be a thriving rail outpost and heavy-industry town but declined after state-enterprise reforms and closures of weak state firms. The town now feels sleepy, surrounded by corn and rice fields with small workshops. China’s population is shrinking and aging, with the United Nations projecting a decline of over 200 million people between 2024 and 2054. Economists warn the country is aging before becoming fully wealthy, creating major policy and economic challenges.
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