Jinan City, Shandong Province, east China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of "Silver Train", staff members holding banner on platform welcoming passengers

China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of senior travelers on board
3. Various of travelers attending interest classes, instructors speaking
4. Various of travelers reading, dining, chatting
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) senior traveler (name not given):
"I have finally relaxed and gone on a trip. Even though it's my first time, it feels so familiar, just like coming home."
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) senior traveler (name not given):
"They even have group leaders, medical staff, plus opportunities to learn, sing, and join photography contests. They've really thought of everything."
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xu Mei, deputy party secretary, China Railway Shandong Culture and Tourism Group (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"I have led many tour groups and met lots of senior travelers. As our living standards have improved, I feel that retirees are now seeking more fulfillment on a spiritual and emotional level. Silver trains are a great way for seniors to travel."
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8. Various of senior travelers chatting during classes
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Sichuan Province, southwest China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of travelers getting off train, exiting train station
10. Various of senior travelers sightseeing, waving at camera during journey; historical sites, natural sceneries
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jingke, former doctoral supervisor, Chinese Department, Shandong Normal University:
"I have dreamed of this place. I finally made it."
12. Water area, mountains in Jiuzhai Valley
13. Wang using portable positioning device
14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jingke, former doctoral supervisor, Chinese Department, Shandong Normal University:
"Xiaowen, can you hear me?"
15. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) tour guide (name not given):
"I see your location."
16. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jingke, former doctoral supervisor, Chinese Department, Shandong Normal University:
"We can better enjoy our golden years."
17. Travelers getting on train

China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
18. Various of medical worker measuring blood pressure for traveler
19. Various of medical worker pulling chord of SOS device
20. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Li Qiuping, former clinical physician, Health Department of Jinan Military:
"The SOS emergency signal can help with location tracking. And what is it mainly for? There's a rope attached to it. For elderly passengers, especially those who are weak or suddenly fall seriously ill, they can pull the rope. This way, the monitoring center can accurately pinpoint their location, and our doctors can reach the area immediately."
21. Various of view seen from moving train, sticker on window
22. Traveler reading

Beijing, China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
23. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Xiangdong, associate professor, School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing (partially overlaid with shot 24-26):
"In terms of accessibility and safety, the train can improve the aisle slope, add more accessible restrooms in the future, to reduce the risk of falls for seniors. To accommodate age-related changes in vision and hearing, features like voice-controlled lighting and VR viewing devices could be introduced."

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China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
24. Various of senior travelers on board
25. Various of train at platform, moving
25. Staff member monitoring luggage going through security check
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Sichuan Province, southwest China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
27. Various of Wang, Xu posing for photos during journey

China's new "silver trains" are transforming senior travel from a logistical hurdle into a seamless adventure, offering onboard AI-powered classes, emergency medical support, and tracking devices, all designed for passengers aged 65 to 70.

Recently in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, hundreds of excited senior citizens boarded one of China's innovative "silver trains", a groundbreaking travel service designed specifically for elderly passengers.

The train set off on a weeklong journey to Sichuan Province in southwest China, carrying over 400 senior passengers with an average age of 70. Designed for comfort and engagement, the specially configured train offered more than just transportation. Each traveler received a comprehensive guide featuring weather forecasts, outfit recommendations, and a schedule of onboard activities, from AI workshops to traditional Chinese ear therapy sessions.

"I have finally relaxed and gone on a trip. Even though it's my first time, it feels so familiar, just like coming home," said a first-time traveler, reflecting on the welcoming atmosphere.

"They even have group leaders, medical staff, plus opportunities to learn, sing, and join photography contests. They've really thought of everything," said another passenger.

Xu Mei, deputy secretary of China Railway Shandong Culture and Tourism Group, highlighted the rising demand for senior-friendly travel experiences.

"As our living standards have improved, I feel that retirees are now seeking more fulfillment on a spiritual and emotional level. Silver trains are a great way for seniors to travel," she said.

The journey featured cultural visits to historical landmarks such as Huangze Temple and breathtaking natural landscapes like Jiuzhaigou Valley.

For 70-year-old Wang Jingke, a former professor, the trip fulfilled her lifelong dream.

"I have dreamed of this place (Jiuzhaigou Valley). I finally made it," she said.

Meanwhile, enhanced safety measures ensure peace of mind, featuring portable tracking devices for added security.

"Xiaowen, can you hear me?" Wang tested her device, to which the tour guide promptly responded, "I see your location."

Medical support is available onboard, with emergency SOS devices equipped with cords installed throughout the carriages for safety.

"The SOS emergency signal can help with location tracking. There's a rope attached to it. For elderly passengers, especially those who are weak or suddenly fall seriously ill, they can pull the rope. This way, the monitoring center can accurately pinpoint their location, and our doctors can reach the area immediately," explained former physician Li Qiuping.

With China's population aged beyond 60 exceeding 300 million, accounting 22 percent of the total, experts see great potential in such senior-focused services.

Liu Xiangdong, an associate professor of the School of Economics and Management at the University of Science and Technology Beijing suggested future improvements.

"In terms of accessibility and safety, the train can improve the aisle slope, add more accessible restrooms in the future, to reduce the risk of falls for seniors. To accommodate age-related changes in vision and hearing, features like voice-controlled lighting and VR viewing devices could be introduced," Liu said.

As these silver-haired travelers attend classes, make new friends, and explore scenic destinations with tailored support, China's silver trains are redefining what retirement travel can be, turning what was once a challenging experience into a comfortable, enriching adventure.