Zhang has her own social circle in Beijing. She often discusses how to best look after children with other older women and she has made many friends since coming to Beijing. In the morning, she usually gets up early, and excises together with other senior people. She particularly enjoys taijijian, a form of Tai Chi that uses swords. She also joins other seniors for group dancing. At the weekends, she sometimes plays mahjong and sometimes does some grocery shopping. Other times she visits parks with other seniors.

Zhang admits that she misses her hometown, especially in summer, as it is hotter in Beijing compared to Daqing. Although in Beijing, she has a much more spacious apartment. Her husband passed away years ago, but her two sons still live in her hometown with their now grown-up children. She said that she misses them too.

Not all elders coming to Beijing from their hometown to take care of their grandchildren. Wu, from Shandong, is in her early 60s, and is looking after a man now in his 90s in Shangdi Community, Haidian District.

Wu's husband died in a traffic accident when she was 47. Ever since, she has raised her three sons by herself. Wu, still in good health, does not want to live off any of her sons' money.

Wu is hardworking and frugal. Even though she can live reasonably well with her salary as a nanny, she still tours the community from time to time to collect recyclable garbage and sells this to make a little extra. She said that she wishes to make more money.

Under another's roof

Living with their children, some migrant seniors do not feel at home. Differences in lifestyle and in child-rearing customs sometimes lead to conflicts between migrant elders and their children or children-in-law.

Liu, a retired pharmacist from Shandong, moved to Beijing four years ago to look after her daughter's newborn son. She likes to tidy up the house. However, she frustrates her daughter, who often has difficulty locating the items that Liu has stored away.

Another source of tension in the family is the grandson's love of candy, which he often asks for. Not wanting to reject the boy's requests, Liu often gives him something sweet when he asks. The practice is often protested by her daughter who believes sweets will diminish his appetite for other more nutritious food.

Compared with the relationship between mother and daughter, that between a mother and her daughter-in-law has traditionally been more strained. Zhu, a woman in her 50s, has a rough time living with her son and his wife, both in their late 20s, in a rented apartment inTiantongyuan Community, Changping District.

Zhu came to Beijing from east China's Jiangsu Province to take care of her granddaughter, leaving behind her husband and their farm. Zhu is unhappy that rather than being paid to look after the baby, the young couple often asks her to pay for the family's daily expenses, including groceries.

Many migrant elders feel that they have sacrificed a lot for their children's family, and they can be very sensitive to their children's words and get upset easily, Lin Zi, a psychological counselor and founder of Shanghai-headquartered Linzi Counseling, told Beijing Morning Post.

Nowadays, as China's social security system improves, more and more seniors are capable of financial independence, yet some of them suffer from mental health problems because their psychological needs cannot be met, said Mu Guangzong, a professor specializing in aging problems with the Institute of Population Research, Peking University.

"Various sectors should pay more attention to migrant seniors," said Qi, the researcher with the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. He said that no matter how busy they are, children should spend more time communicating with their elderly parents, and encourage them to make new friends.

"Similarly, the government should reduce policy barriers so that seniors can claim medical and social security payments in their new residency," Qi said. He also suggests that seniors themselves should be more open-minded and actively adapt to the new living environment.

Some communities have organized activities open to migrant seniors. For instance, the Anningzhuang Community in Beijing's Haidian District holds group dance competitions and sports meetings, which are also open to migrant seniors.

This summer, the Beijing Municipal Government granted migrant seniors who have resided in the capital for more than six months preferential treatment usually enjoyed by local seniors. For instance, seniors above the age of 65 can take a bus and visit parks and museums for free.

Email us at: wanghairong@bjreview.com