Yet the scenes that left the deepest impression were not found at China's geographic extremes, but in everyday public spaces — along the Qiantang River in Zhejiang province and in Cuihu Park in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan.

"The streets were filled almost entirely with elderly residents," Jing recalled. "Large groups of older adults gathered spontaneously to sing, dance, write poetry, paint, and even arrange matchmaking. It was all self-organized leisure."

What struck him was not only how visible and active seniors were, but how central aging had already become to China's social fabric.

"I hadn't seen so many seniors voluntarily gathering in public spaces in other countries," he said. "That was when I realized this was the issue that I wanted to devote myself to."

With 1.4 billion people and more than one-fifth of them aged 60 or above, China was entering an unprecedented demographic transition. "In second — and third-tier cities and smaller towns, there is enormous unmet demand for elder-care services," Jing said.

"Families are facing real pressures — labor shortages, rising costs, and the strain of caring for aging parents," he added.

Turning conviction into action, however, proved far more difficult than identifying the problem.