Photo story: Lonely old time

They are the nation's rural elderly forced to live a lonely life alone. Some live alone because their spouses died and they have no children to care for them. Others simply choose to live away from their families and don't want to burden others.

The Chinese population over 60 will top 200 million in 2013. The figure is expected to skyrocket to 487 million, or 35 percent of the population, by 2053, according to the China National Committee On Aging.

In our collection of images of these nameless seniors from across China we aim to highlight their plight ahead of Spring Festival and acknowledge the problem will only get worse as many rural seniors suffer illness and endure a hard life.

A partial-sighted 80-year-old woman lives alone in a basement in Yuncheng city, Shanxi province, April 7, 2012. [Photo/CFP]