BBC News School Report @ LCS
The 73 Year Old Backpacker who's Inspired Young Chinese People.
By: Zaira.
An elderly woman from China has won millions of fans on Chinese social media.
Ms Qi chose to go backpacking instead of leaving her inheritance to her children. An online video of her has been circulating around the internet. It has sparked a debate about whether Chinese elderly have choices.
Speaking to Pear Video, a Chinese video streaming company, she says, “Why do elderly Chinese people have to do housework, and look after their children and grandchildren? We should have our own lives.
Ms Qi mentions in the video that she has been travelling all her life, visiting countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
Pear Video followed her as she embarked on her latest trip to Quanzhou in China’s southwest Fujian Province. She stays in a dorm room in the video, and says she saves money by travelling with students and sharing journey costs.
She says that one of the most important things about her travels is meeting young people. “I talk with them and they have lots of fresh things to say,” she says.
Ms Qi’s 92 year old mother is still alive and she frequently calls her to let her know how she is, and she posts pictures on social media for her family. She tells Pear Video about her social media accounts: “I write everything: my memories, my inspirations – a diary of memories for my children and grandchildren.”
Why do elderly chinese people have to do housework and look after their children and grandchildrn? We should have our own lives.
The three minute video featuring Ms Qi has been viewed more than 11 million times and has received tens of thousands of comments with many users speaking with admiration for her as a free-spirited woman.
Social media users are seeing her as a new a role model for old age.
“An independent, enchanting woman,” one user says. One user says, “I hope I can be like her.”
“An independent, enchanting woman,” one user says,“I hope I can be like her.”
Another adds: “There are not enough people like this: today’s elderly seem to think that they can’t be the same as when they were young.”