Senior folks run model town

Something’s good cooking Zhanqi Village shows fermentation process of Pixian Douban in a mini museum that features brown jars containing different spices. HANANEEL BORDEY @tribunephl_hana

SICHUAN, China — Two hours from the key Chengdu city is a small village called Zhanqi which is populated by mostly old people who defy the stereotypes of those in advanced age, as they keep the town’s economy robust.

Zhanqi Village has a population of at least 800 families who form a commune supported by the Chinese government to farm spices and other crops which are traded to other villages including the urban centers of Sichuan province.

According to local residents, the town was built to become a model village where people from different parts of China, as well as tourists, can learn about an idyllic place where residents work to complement each other.

Residents have an average age of about 45 years old compared to 37 years old for China and 24.4 years old for the Philippines.

Starvation is near to impossible in this small town as its citizens are focused on planting and harvesting crops that grow in cold places like lettuce and carrots. The Sichuan carrot, however, is unique as it is as white as a raddish while it has the shape of a big white onion.

The village is also a shoe-making hub where traditional footwear favored by old folks is manufactured. These footwear maintains warmth and is comfortable especially during winter. Among the avid buyers of this special shoes is Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Cold weather also prompted villagers to produce fermented spices like chili paste and pixian doubanjiang (Chinese bean paste) that are popular ingredients in Chinese delicacies. Spices are also among the more popular products in Zhanqi village.

Despite its rural air, Zhanqi village is complete with amenities, in a miniature proportion, such as banks, convenience stores and payment centers for basic services like electricity and water.

The small town maintains a collective income of at least 500,000 renminbi a month which is similar to the output of regular cities in Sichuan province.

Since elderlies do not have too much material needs, banks have become essential to the town for their savings.

The old residents in Zhanqi Village were mostly left by their children who work in the cities.

Senior residents mostly choose not to leave their homes thus causing them to live alone.

Zhanqi is an ideal place for the older generation not only because the place is quiet and has a rustic air but it also has sustainable farmlands plowed by modern machines and clean ponds where people can live a healthy life.

No wonder, the Chinese government made it a model village as Zhanqi represents the state’s vision of merging rural and urban development in provinces and cities.