Co-housing in China: Feasibility study of Chinese elderly co-housing in the coming decade

As aging continues to increase, China is facing unprecedented sustainability challenges. At the same time, the perceptions and physical environment of the next generation of aging are shifting. In the midst of this, the senior co-housing model seems like a possible solution to be introduced in China. In this context, senior co-housing refers to “intentional communities” that senior residents live closely and in a balance of private space and collective activities. The thesis inquires into the viability of the senior co-housing services to fit into the Chinese context in the next decade. Specifically, it investigates three research aspects: the current status and characteristics of existing co-housing, the Chinese retirement environment and trend, and the entry point for combining the two. This work consists of three phases. In the first phase, I explore the perceptions and visions of the Chinese new generation elderly on aging. This phase takes place in Jinan, China, where I have done in-depth interviews with the target group and facilitated a workshop that enables research participants to discuss future co-housing lifestyles. In the second phase, I examine the European co-housing model and applications by conducting interviews with a resident of the Finnish co-housing organization Aktiiviset Seniorit and the designer who has been working with the project for overtime. Lastly, in the third phase, I look into the ecosystem and composition of the present Chinese elderly care landscape. According to the findings, I summarize the characteristics and the parts to integrate with the co-housing model. This thesis study shows the potential for integrating the senior co-housing model into the Chinese context and suggests several characteristics as possible guidance of future senior co-housing projects. Based on the key findings, possible visions are depicted. The study provides implications for the applications of senior co-housing in China. Moreover, it helps people to understand better the needs of the new generation of older people

Exploring the Phenomenon of Chinese Babymoon Tourism

The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomenon of Chinese babymoon tourism. This phenomenon is gaining popularity in China but has not received due attention in academic research and from the tourism industry. The study aims to identify the backgrounds of young Chinese couples who participate in babymoon tourism, uncover the factors that motivate them to do so, and examine their travel behaviors that take place during such trips

The Care of Older people in Urban China: Who is Responsible

As an ageing society going through dramatic economic and political transitions, the care of older people in urban China has increasingly become a source of social anxiety and a topic of policy debate. This study has identified three key actors in the provision of care to older people in urban China, namely the family, the neighbourhood and the state. While the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and intergenerational responsibility has put the family as the primary care provider for older people, the neighbourhood is also conventionally perceived as a safety net for them. In a society that was once dominated by the values of communal reciprocity and collective responsibilities, the state has restricted its support only to those most deprived, and has thus played a limited role in promoting welfare entitlements for older people. Yet, since the 1980s, the transition from a collective socialist economy to a competitive market economy has also transformed societal values on issues such as individuality, family, responsibility, privacy and autonomy, which subsequently changed social expectations of how the care of older people should be best delivered. I argue that in order to understand the changing social expectations and the corresponding responses from different stakeholders, one has to first comprehend the shifting ideas of the rights and responsibilities associated with the care of older people. The changing perspectives towards different types of old-age support were examined, based on 39 qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (older people, academics, government officials and local Residents Committee officers and NGO staff) in two Chinese cities, Beijing and Guangzhou. This research contributes knowledge to social gerontology and social policy field through a broader understanding of the pursuance of a 'good life' by older people in contemporary China. It points to my argument that independence and autonomy in old age, as valued by the interviewees, will not be realised unless there is a fundamental shift in policy. That is to say, policies should recognise and respect the individuality of older people and facilitate their life choices. Most importantly, a balanced welfare mix requires the state to play a stronger role in filling the care provision gap left by the family and the neighbourhood

Wellbeing and Urban Regeneration in China: Towards a People-Centred Urban Agenda

Following four decades of reform, China has lifted millions out of poverty. Nevertheless, the social costs of the country’s growth-oriented agenda have long been scrutinised, with phenomena such as rapid urbanisation being one of the most transformative forces in this process. Under the umbrella of urban regeneration and quality of life improvements, state-led projects have been criticised for their primary focus on selective physical upgrading, large-scale demolition, and relocation, incurring significant social costs. However, recent paradigm and policy shifts are pointing towards increased governmental interest in promoting wellbeing-oriented urban development: a response aligned with global efforts to define new directions for evaluating human progress, beyond indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This has led to growing scholarship on the topic of wellbeing and urbanisation in China, albeit theorisations remaining narrow. The present, exploratory research project therefore identifies that it is necessary to carry out further inquiries into current urban regeneration approaches in China. It also addresses the need for constructing new assessment frameworks, tailored to the political, socio-economic and cultural specificities of the country. In this sense, the thesis explores how the concept of wellbeing is understood and integrated in the context of current urban regeneration schemes in China. Towards this aim, the research employs qualitative methods such as systematised literature reviews, interviews and observation. It begins by constructing a theoretical framework for wellbeing in urban transformation, where wellbeing lies at the nexus of both processes and sociospatial outcomes of regeneration. The framework is contextualised by analysing political and intellectual engagements with the concept of wellbeing in China, revealing a complex picture of urban China in transition - one where wellbeing lies at the convergence between the legacy of collectivism, and the rise of individualism. This is followed by a review of Chinese urban regeneration mechanisms in the last three decades, focusing on three case studies from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou in order to scrutinise the un-linear and complex path towards more people-centred regeneration approaches. Finally, the study explores the ways in which practitioner understandings of wellbeing are being materialised into current practices, revealing the emergence of new actors, innovative governance mechanisms and place-based solutions