Chinese senior citizens have been isolated from the rest of the modern society, a recent survey said.

China Central Television's Wednesday program quoted a new survey that reported over 99.5 percent of senior citizens in China do not engage in mainstream social activities.

Seniors daily activities include cooking, watching television, taking care of their grandchildren, and more the survey showed.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China has the largest number of senior citizens in the world, with more than 130 million at the age of 60 or older, making up 10 percent of the 1.3 billion person population.

The survey interviewed at random 2225 senior citizens over 60 years old in seven cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The multiple answer survey found that seniors spend 85 percent of their time in front of the TV, 61 percent doing housework, and 55 percent doing fitness exercises.

The survey showed that Chinese seniors tend to stay within their own circles, far away from mainstream society; this was according to the television program interviews on the street.

The program compared senior citizens on the mainland to those in Taiwan. It said many seniors in Taiwan engage in volunteer programs.

Chinese people have a longer life expectancy with economic and social development. Senior citizens should be encouraged to take part in more colorful social activities, after they retire, which is part of a more progressive society, the program said.

(CRI October 27, 2005)