Aging, agile, smitten by wanderlust, Chinese make world their oyster

These days, post-retirement life for Chinese people includes not just tai chi, mahjong, and dancing at squares but travel, which has spawned niche tourism.

Liu Yue, 56, said she now travels twice a year. She has visited Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Tibet autonomous region, Guizhou province, Yunnan province, as well as Russia and Cambodia in recent years. Her future plans are for visits to Japan and South Korea.

Generally, she would invite several friends or family members to join on a package tour. "So it won't take our time to arrange the travel schedule."