CHAPTER 1　INTRODUCTION

1.1　Research Background

China's reform and opening-up （economic and political reform of 1978）brought not only a transition from an agricultural society and planned economy to an industrial society and market economy，but also rapid economic growth and great social changes.These changes created continuous improvement in people's quality of life and people's life span has been prolonged.China's demographics was the youngest in 1964，the proportion of the elderly population was less than 4%.Since 1964，China has entered a sustained “aging” process，with the aging population continuing to rise.

At present，China's average fertility rate is 10.48%.By the end of 2019，China's population older than 60 years had climbed to 253.88 million.China also became the first country in the world in which the elderly population exceeded 200 million，with 18.1% of the total population.People older than 65 years numbered 176.03 million，accounting for 12.6% of the total population.Shanghai has entered a deep stage of aging.The census register population was 14.7116 million and the those older than 60 years numbered 5.1812 million，accounting for 35.2% of the total population by December 31，2019.

Several features have emerged in the development of China's aging，such as faster growth，large scale，increasing empty-nest families，and living alone.The growing elderly population has gradually become a hot topic in society.Indeed，the elderly population has become a target for lifelong education.

With the spread of lifelong learning in China and establishment of the lifelong education system，China has created an educational system for the elderly.With the construction of learning cities in China，the government has established the three-level network of community colleges，community schools，and learning center under neighborhood committees in an experiment on community education.Community schools offer a variety of learning activities so that the elderly can pursue lifelong learning.Therefore，learning and the lives of the elderly have become concerned greater concern for society.

“Although the dusk is fast approaching，the sunset is splendid” has become the beautiful portrayal of the modern life and soul of the elderly.Whether in schools，parks，or the community，people can see the elderly studying or participating in various community activities.The elderly have not only used their own practices to show that elderly lives are good，but their own efforts have also proved their quality and taste.