In China, People Are Paying to Feel Less Lonely
Monday, October 19, 2026161 words3 minutes444 reads
In China, people are paying for company as well as practical help. Yang, a 91-year-old woman near Beijing, became lonely after her husband died. Wang Yingwei and his team now visit twice daily with hot meals. They also help with household problems and make time to talk.
Such support is useful when relatives live far away. Many young adults move to other cities for work or study, leaving older parents behind. Yet loneliness also affects younger people who have moved away from home.
In Beijing, 23-year-old Liu Yanyan works as a medical escort: someone paid to help customers during hospital visits. Some customers are in their twenties. Hiring help can feel easier than asking a friend to miss work. Elsewhere, people hire hiking partners for photographs and encouragement.
Paid companionship offers clear expectations about the help provided. However, it raises questions about what friendship means. A reliable visit can improve someone's day, even though professional support cannot replace every close relationship.
