The ideal retirement: getting paid to fish

Most of the 60 employees are fishing lovers and farmers who live nearby, and they are glad that they can make some money during less busy times, she said.

The program's social impact resonates beyond tourism. By integrating seniors into the park's narrative, it challenges stereotypes of aging as a period of mere childcare or idleness, she said.

These roles allow seniors to contribute meaningfully, boosting income and self-worth, noted a local cultural tourism official.

Industry experts highlight the dual benefits: low-intensity employment for seniors and cost-effective cultural immersion for visitors. For China's aging rural population, this experiment in "silver-haired IP" may cast a far wider net — proving that innovation, when rooted in tradition, can reel in both economic and social rewards, they said.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn