Teng Junying has no idea what 2017 will hold if she fails to win a spot at Hebei University for the Aged, a government-funded school for senior citizens.

The 57-year-old has spent the past two years in the university's classrooms, learning to sing and dance, but she fears a change to its admissions policy could leave her disappointed.

"It feels like a lottery," she said, referring to the announcement that applications for its 4,000 places will now be decided at random.