BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A reality dating show following five pairs of middle-aged singles has gone viral on Chinese social media recently. Its biggest hook is a rare focus on the emotional complexities of an older age group, allowing its audience to reconsider older generations and their right to love.
"Forever By Your Side" unfolds against the romantic scenery of Dali, a popular tourist attraction in southwest China's Yunnan Province. A total of 10 participants between the ages of 46 and 53 are together for more than 10 days, during which they travel from Dali to Thailand.
Unlike other types of blind dating common among people in the age group, the show features guests who tend to prioritize finding a soul mate over seeking a pension, housing assets, health care or other stereotypical expectations.
Their romance journey has sparked widespread discussion online since the show was released in late December, making headlines on the Chinese blogging platform Weibo. It captured notable attention from young people, with 70 percent of its audience aged between 24 and 29, according to industry data.
This success is largely attributed to the rise of China's "new generation of elderly people" -- people in the 50-plus age group. Guests on the show present an unconventional image of aging -- elegance, vitality and, most importantly, a desire for true love with no less passion than young people.
Many netizens commented that they never imagined that people of their parents' age could date like that.
REVEALING EMOTIONAL NEEDS
The show adopts a "city love" format in which participants are invited to express their innermost feelings through a message in a bottle, communicate with one another on a deep level and, ultimately, build a relationship. It also adds "catfish elements" to induce competition, at times leading to dramatic plots.
On popular social media platform Rednote, special chat groups have cropped up where young netizens share their feelings while watching the show. Some have even dubbed it their top variety show of the year.
One driver of the show's popularity is its aim to rewrite negative stereotypes of older generations. Far from being rigid and tedious, its guests grapple with youthful emotional complications like physical anxiety and romantic rivalry. Many young viewers have found their curiosity turns to obsession with watching what they refer to as "mature love tactics."
Some have noted that the show reflects a new demographic trend as China has become a moderately aging society. By the end of 2024, the number of people aged 60 or above in the country had reached 310 million. A new "silver generation" -- relatively healthy, better educated and financially secure -- is transforming the established narrative of aging.
On "Forever By Your Side," freelancer designer Liu Yugang, 53, says he is "extremely satisfied" with his life. As his children have started university, he can finally live in his own way, waking up naturally every day -- "It's like a brand-new entry ticket to my life," he jokes.
Another guest, former Shanghai newspaper fashion director Ma Qing, reveals to viewers that the youngest person she has dated was 18 years younger than her.
Like Liu and Ma, many of this new generation of older people, who established themselves amid China's reform and opening-up, tend to focus more on their emotional needs and personal value after retirement.
The resonance among the youth also reveals an inner need that has long been neglected or constrained. "Love is never exclusive to a certain age group," Jiang Lingshuang, the show's director, told the media. "No different from young people, our parents' generation also longs for close relationships, but that, nevertheless, is frequently out-valued by jobs, kids, the trivial nature of life, and so on."
For many older people, retirement once meant reduced social connection and shifting family relationships, with later life being shadowed by loneliness and emotional loss. A national survey of China's elderly people revealed that in 2021, 14.2 percent of the population group lived alone.
Although not sufficiently representative, the show marks progress in social attitudes toward aging. "In a rapidly aging society, what is needed most is more than health -- it's companionship and deep emotional connection," Jiang said.
BOOSTING SILVER ECONOMY
As highlighted in the show, this new silver generation has expanding demands for the social, recreational, educational and cultural aspects of life. Experts say the continuous growth of China's elderly population has given rise to an increasingly substantial demand for richer spiritual and cultural lives.
Fueled by potential, the silver economy is creating fresh avenues for the growth of the culture and entertainment sectors.
Video clips from the dating show posted on the Chinese version of TikTok have cumulatively received views topping 650 million. The country's booming micro drama market is also cashing in on this trend, attracting older viewers with tailored productions. In 2024 alone, nearly half of micro drama viewers were aged 40 or above.
Official data shows that in the first half of 2025, revenues from cultural and entertainment services nationwide for elderly people climbed 20.7 percent year on year. China's overall silver economy was worth about 7 trillion yuan (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, and it is projected to reach 30 trillion yuan by 2035, at which point it would account for 10 percent of the country's GDP.
The silver economy is integrated into China's development goals. In early 2024, the State Council General Office issued a set of guidelines on developing the silver economy and improving the well-being of the elderly, calling for more cultural and entertainment services for the group. The recommendations for the formulation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development also underlined the importance of developing the silver economy.
With increased policy support and social understanding, there will be more possibilities for the later stages of life in China. In the words of one social media user, "The stories of the second half of life can still be full of excitement and splendor." ■
