Yinchuan, January 12 (Reporter Li Peishan) – "No need to crowd around asking tour guides, you can listen to slow-paced explanations by scanning a QR code, there are help buttons in the restrooms, and parking lots offer contactless payment. Traveling is so much easier now!" On January 12, Li Lin, a retired tourist who was about to finish her trip to Ningxia, praised the senior-friendly services at the scenic spots she visited in an interview with reporters in Yinchuan.
On January 12, at the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Scenic Area in Yinchuan, staff assisted tourists with online ticket purchases. Shared wheelchair drop-off and pick-up points were also set up throughout the scenic area to facilitate travel for elderly tourists. (Photo by Zhao Hui)The pleasant experience described by Li Lin is a microcosm of the age-friendly renovations being carried out in scenic spots across Ningxia. From ancient sites and ruins at the foot of the Helan Mountains to rural villages along the Yellow River, scenic spots in Ningxia are focusing on the core needs of elderly tourists. Through detailed optimization and service upgrades, they are helping "silver-haired tourism" overcome travel inconveniences and showcasing the humanistic warmth of cultural tourism development.
On January 12, a reporter saw that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were installed at key locations in the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Scenic Area in Yinchuan. (Photo by Zhao Hui)In historical and cultural scenic areas, technology empowers elderly tourists to easily appreciate the charm of history. The Dong Mansion in Wuzhong City is the best-preserved official residence complex in Ningxia. Here, tourists don't need to download an app; they can simply scan a QR code to access soothing and easy-to-understand audio guides. The system also automatically recommends gently sloping tour routes, accompanied by large-font guide signs, making it easy for seniors to leisurely appreciate the beauty of the ancient architecture. "Age-friendly renovations balance the protection of cultural relics with the needs of the elderly, improving the visitor experience through detailed optimization," said the person in charge of the Dong Mansion scenic area. The scenic area's smart restrooms are equipped with non-slip mats and handrails, and the smart parking lot supports contactless payment, completely solving the pain points of elderly tourists such as "difficulty finding restrooms and slow payment."
On December 20, 2025, many tourists were enjoying a leisurely boat trip at the Ningxia Agricultural Tourism Industrial Park. (File photo) Photo by Li PeishanBesides historical sites, rural scenic areas are also enhancing the travel experience for senior tourists with thoughtful amenities. Within the Ningxia Agricultural Tourism Industrial Park, not only is there full wireless network coverage, but a customized ticketing system has also been launched, featuring large fonts and a high-contrast interface design for easy and smooth operation by elderly tourists. "Rest benches and water stations are everywhere, and you can hear regular announcements about the weather and sightseeing tips," said Li Lin after experiencing the services at the agricultural tourism industrial park. She added that these measures allow seniors to enjoy the rural charm without worrying about travel difficulties.
Beyond enhancing visitor convenience, the refined upgrading of emergency response capabilities is also a crucial direction for age-friendly renovations in scenic areas. The Xixia Mausoleums Scenic Area in Yinchuan has installed large one-button emergency alarms in its smart restrooms, accompanied by easy-to-understand diagrams for quick and easy operation by elderly tourists. Its "precise positioning + rapid response" emergency service model provides immediate assistance to senior visitors. Furthermore, the scenic area also offers self-service wheelchair rental points, and staff are stationed next to the ticket machines to provide guidance and assistance, ensuring comprehensive convenience for elderly tourists.
Today, from infrastructure optimization to smart service upgrades, age-friendly renovations of various types of scenic spots in Ningxia cover the entire process of travel, sightseeing, rest, and emergency response, making the journey less worrisome and more convenient for elderly tourists, allowing them to experience the scenery and humanistic care of different places while exploring. (End)
