China to launch ‘silver trains’ aimed at elderly tourists to boost economy - China aims to launch more than 100 ‘high-quality railway routes for elderly tourism’ by 2027

China will launch a fleet of special “silver trains” specially built for the comfort and safety of elderly people to encourage its rapidly ageing population to travel – and spend – more, as it grapples with a demographic decline and stuttering economy.

As the sun rose over the snow-capped peaks of the Qinling Mountains, a group of silver-haired retirees eagerly boarded a Silk Road-themed tourism train in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

China plans to roll out a network of tourist trains equipped with medical and elder-care facilities as part of its efforts to create a “silver economy” and unlock the spending power of its aging population.