“The weather is nice, we're planning to go to Xishan Park.” “Just got back from the market, and I'm going to cook something delicious for my daughter.” Recently, the reporter visited the Yunnan Guiye Health and Wellness Sojourn Apartment near Ayi Jiayuan Community in Dian Zhong New Area, and happened to find Liu Guanrong and their spouse, as well as Ms. Wei Li, all at home.

Since moving in on July 1, 62-year-old Liu Guanrong and her husband Mr. Yang have been “dodging” Chongqing's hottest season in their new home. “Chongqing is over 40 degrees now, but here it's just over 20 degrees, very cool.” Liu said that after coming to Kunming, they had screened several areas. “We first looked in Jinning, but there were no suitable apartments. A friend recommended Dian Zhong New Area. We came to see it and decided immediately, signing a six-year contract.” A 76-square-meter two-bedroom apartment with an annual rent of just over 9,600 yuan made the old couple quite satisfied: “It's much cheaper than Chongqing. Grocery shopping is also a bargain—vegetables and fruits are fresh and affordable.”

Looking out from the balcony of the sojourn apartment, the green mountains rise like brows painted in ancient ink.

This summer, the sojourn apartment project, with existing housing provided by Yunnan Dian Zhong Affordable Housing Construction Co., Ltd. and renovated and operated by Yunnan Guiye Health and Wellness International Development Co., Ltd., has been very popular. Project manager Lai Junjie said that since May 1, about 60 households and over 120 sojourners have moved in, most of them retired seniors from Sichuan and Chongqing. “People come to view apartments every day, and all renovated units are basically booked. A small apartment of over 50 square meters has an annual rent of less than 7,000 yuan, averaging nearly 600 yuan per month—very affordable.” Lai said the apartments are fully furnished, with separate kitchens and bathrooms, balconies, and parking spaces. “Elderly people can move in and start cooking for themselves right away. More apartments are being renovated, and supporting facilities such as a canteen and activity center will be added later.”

Wei Li, a sojourner from Yibin, Sichuan, began planning her sojourn life after retiring last year and moved in with her daughter this May. “Yibin is muggy in summer, and the heat was a bit much for my daughter and me.” Her daughter is preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam and needs a quiet, comfortable environment. “The weather is pleasant; she can focus on studying while I cook.” Wei Li buys fresh seasonal vegetables every morning and goes for walks with her daughter in the evening, and has also met a few fellow Yibin natives. “The Dabanqiao farmers' market is 2 kilometers from the community, and on Thursdays, the market day, there's a huge variety of produce.” She's even more excited that the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway is opening at the end of this year. “Then it will be faster and more convenient to come from Yibin. Many of my fellow Yibin natives say they want to come and see apartments, so we can escape the summer heat together.”

Wei Li prepares to cook in her sojourn apartment.

Behind the trend of coming to Yunnan to escape the heat is a nationwide boom in silver-haired(senior) sojourn. According to 2025 sample survey data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China's population aged 60 and above has reached 321 million, accounting for 22.86% of the total. With the post-60s generation retiring en masse, nearly 60% of elderly people's consumption focus has shifted from survival security to quality experiences. Provinces such as Yunnan, Jilin, and Hainan have been intensively rolling out policies to boost the silver economy, and serving retired residents is becoming a new track that regions across the country are competing to layout.

The Dabanqiao Comprehensive Farmers' Market, where sojourners often shop, is about 2 kilometers from Ayi Jiayuan Community.

In this competition, Dian Zhong New Area has become an important destination for sojourners from other provinces, thanks to its cool summer climate averaging just over 20 degrees, affordable rent of only a few hundred yuan per month, and transportation advantages such as proximity to the airport and the soon-to-be-completed high-speed rail station. Industry insiders analyze that the scale of the silver economy is expected to exceed 30 trillion yuan by 2035, and with such strong demand, the travel-and-wellness residence sector in Dian Zhong New Area has great potential.

How to revitalize more vacant houses and turn them into warm homes for sojourners? How to better adapt infrastructure to meet the needs of visitors from all over? Dian Zhong New Area is actively exploring solutions. Currently, there are still ample housing units available, and sojourners have also raised higher requirements for the living environment. “In terms of transportation, we hope there will be more bus routes connecting to subway stations, and we also hope to enjoy the same public transport concessions as Kunming's elderly residents,” Liu Guanrong told the reporter.

The sojourn apartments are all fully furnished.

“In terms of living amenities, the community parking lot is free for sojourners; a discounted broadband package costs just over 300 yuan a year; and gas service is also being rolled out.” Chen Xinyi, a staff member of Guiye Health and Wellness Company, told the reporter. The team receives many inquiries every day. “Sometimes three or four groups come to view apartments in a single day. We patiently receive every guest, recommend suitable units based on their needs, and help resolve all kinds of problems before and after they move in.” She said that seeing sojourners live happily and comfortably in the New Area gives her a great sense of achievement.

The day when the entire Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway opens is drawing near.Wei Li made plans with her friends on WeChat: “Come and check out the apartments in my neighborhood. If you like it, rent one too, and we'll be neighbors.”

This summer, more new neighbors are on their way.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Jennifer, Evan)