Playing mahjong is popular family entertainment in Northeast China. In the early days of retirement Guo did the usual routine. She finished shopping in the morning, then tidied up the home, made lunch, and started playing mahjong at 1:30 pm. Now, her hobbies are walking with attitude down the catwalks and filming short videos.

Cheng Derong is 72. She is tall and lean, with a smile that seems to last forever. She is polite and gentle. Cheng worked in a community committee before retirement in 2005.