'Elderly drifters' find homes away from home

New chapter

In 2017, retired journalist Xu Jingzhou, 69, left his hometown of Pizhou, Jiangsu province, to move to Beijing and help care for his newborn granddaughter.

The former senior editor of Pizhou Daily newspaper, spent decades living and working in the county seat before moving. Leaving behind his old courtyard house and the familiar rhythm of retirement was not easy, Xu said.

"I had many reservations as childcare is physically demanding, and I knew adapting to a small apartment in Beijing would be completely different," he said.

His wife, holding a senior position at a large enterprise, initially hesitated. In the first year, she commuted back and forth while most of the caregiving duties fell on Xu.

The couple also debated whether to sell their Pizhou home, aware that some of their acquaintances later regretted making such a decision.

Despite these concerns, Xu and his wife were charmed by Beijing's cultural life. Living near Tsinghua and Peking universities, they were surrounded by exhibitions, lecture sessions, and libraries. "We were drawn to the cultural atmosphere of the capital, and that part of the experience proved unexpectedly enriching," said Xu.

Yet family remained the core motivation for moving, even though the child's early years were exhausting. Over time, the experience brought unexpected rewards.

Xu and his wife documented their granddaughter's growth, opening a QQ account called "XuXuErXiao" and keeping a diary on Sina Weibo. These posts were accumulated into a manuscript Grandpa's Notes on Raising a Child in Beijing, which attracted provincial and national media attention.

Xu also wrote over 200 nursery rhymes that were compiled into two books.

Childcare did not halt Xu's intellectual pursuits. Between the child's naps and feeding times, he continued research on Chinese classic novels such as Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase) and Dream of the Red Chamber, producing hundreds of essays and adapting quickly to digital platforms, running social media accounts, recording lectures, and producing educational videos.

"Learning kept me alive, guiding me through challenges and giving each day deeper meaning," he said. His dedication earned him recognition as a local "learning model", and he was invited to teach online senior education courses.

"I came here out of love, but what I discovered was a whole new world of learning. I wanted to give my granddaughter a home woven from family memories and culture — and to me, that is everything," said Xu.