Roller skating is a way to stay fit, meet friends, and rebel against social norms for this group of retirees in Hangzhou
After donning his roller skates and protective pads, 76-year-old Shou Guohang begins to glide across the square next to Hangzhou’s West Lake, skillfully weaving between the passing tourists as a nearby speaker blares patriotic songs from the last century. For the past 12 years, Shou has been skating here with a group of retirees every day from 7 to 10 a.m.
Rolling Past Retirement: The Seniors Fighting For Space to Skate is a story from our issue, “Online Odyssey.” To read the entire issue, become a subscriber and receive the full magazine.
Shao Yefan is a contributing writer at The World of Chinese. She writes articles about economic and political changes in Chinese society, especially how these affect normal people’s lives. She is particularly interested in the impact of international events like the Olympic Games on Chinese society.
