EXPRESS SHOPPING: A migratory woman who lives in the Qianzhouwan Compound in Boao Town of Qionghai, Hainan Province, on her way to a local store

Cold and inclement conditions are prompting some Chinese seniors to flock south for the winter An increasing number of senior citizens from the north are choosing to spend the winter in China's southern provinces, especially the island province of Hainan, which boasts warm weather and fresh air.

Seventy-two-year-old Beijing native Li Hongshan, who worked for the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. until retirement, is one of these migratory senior citizens. During a recent flight from Beijing to Qionghai City of Hainan, Li told Beijing Review that this is the fourth winter he will be spending in Hainan. His children bought a 60-square-meter apartment for him and his wife there in 2011.

"My wife has a cardiovascular condition. The clean air and warm and humid weather in Hainan have helped a lot to improve her health," said Li. "Every year, we live for four to five months in the province and take it easy."

Unlike Li, 73-year-old Chen You, formerly a factory worker, has come to Hainan for the first time. Having heard from his friends and relatives that Hainan is a so-called "heaven on Earth," Chen decided to pay a visit. When asked if he plans to buy an apartment in the province, Chen said he would first rent one and stay there for a period of time before deciding whether or not to make a purchase.

"If the experience of living here turns out to be pleasant, I may come back every year," said Chen.

With people's material wealth increasing, they are now attaching more importance to their quality of life. Not only have many elderly people from large metropolises such as Beijing have chosen to migrate, but seniors from second- and third-tier cities have opted to do the same.

Liu Panwen, a retiree from Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, has been living in Qionghai for six months every year together with his wife ever since they bought a 59-square-meter apartment in the Qianzhouwan Compound in Qionghai's Boao Town in 2010.

"Although Qingdao is also a coastal city, its environment is not comparable," said Liu, 74. "It's comfortable to spend the winter here, wearing light clothes, sunbathing on the beach and enjoying the seafood and exotic fruits. We are feeling wonderful and our health has improved a lot."

The couple lead a relaxed life, splitting their time between going to town to buy vegetables, surfing the Internet, taking walks, and watching TV. They say the compound they live in is safe and provides satisfactory services. The staff will come any time day and night when called.

"We will continue with this lifestyle in the future," said the couple.

Qi Rong, 64, a retired traffic policeman from Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, also lives in the compound.

A large number of elderly people from China's three northeastern provinces—Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, where winter temperatures can drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius, choose to live in Hainan during winter.

According to the Migratory Senior Citizens' Association of Sanya City, one of Hainan's most popular urban tourist destinations, more than 19,000 senior citizens from Harbin will be spending the winter in Hainan this year. The association estimates that the number of senior citizens from around China expected to spend time in Hainan this winter will exceed 400,000, most of whom will be based in Sanya.

Qi said the warm weather in winter and the fresh sea air brought him to Hainan. In addition to buying an apartment, Qi has even purchased a sports utility vehicle. Having recently developed cancer, Qi said the province's beautiful scenery has made him happier.

People spending their winters in Hainan are not limited exclusively to those from China's northern areas, however. Many senior citizens from southern provinces and municipalities such as Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Sichuan also choose to live in Hainan during the chilly season.

In addition to buying apartments, many senior citizens choose to rent an apartment during their stay in Hainan. To accommodate the increasing inflow of seniors, tourist cities including Qionghai and Sanya have constructed many apartment buildings designed to be let.

KICK BACK AND RELAX: Residents of the Meilinghu Compound in Qionghai take a bath in the compound's hot spring

LEISURE TIME: Qi Rong and his wife, from Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, in the Qianzhouwan Compound in Boao

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