We are familiar with stories emerging from China about unprecedented levels of economic growth, the aspirations of a people finding disposable income in their pockets and huge demand for consumer goods that we, in the west, take for granted.
The nation has also experienced a significant explosion in population from 502 million in 2002 to, just ten years later, 712 million. The impression we have is of a young and dynamic nation and yet by 2030 there will be an estimated 210 million over the age of 65 years.
Life in a new productive and market driven economy must be confusing for the elderly generation.
In the days of stark Communism prior to the new era there was a state encouragement of healthy exercise with all ages required to undertake a daily physical exercise routine. With a degree of materialism has come a lethargy and apathy amongst the youth sector leaving the 40 to 65 year olds to maintain the old traditions.
It is estimated that every day some 100 million retirees and seniors, mostly women partake in mass participation public line dancing.
This is seen as a way to keep fit in a country where medical care is expensive but also for socialising, interaction and general gossiping.
Often referred to as "Dancing Grannies" they have attracted the attentions of the Government, specifically the General Administration of Sport and the Ministry of Culture.
It seems that the dance routines, accompanied by a boom box blaring out old tunes and pop music is causing upset to the younger generation and residents close to what can be large and noisy gatherings of ladies in the early morning or evenings.
The line dancing takes place in public squares, open spaces and communal parks as massive urban and city expansion has reduced recreational facilities.
In Chinese society families have been encouraged to have their elders live-in rather than be put into a residential or assisted living care establishment. The open air congregating also serves to get the seniors out of the house which could be cramped and unfriendly.
In some major cities and towns the level of opposition to the dancing grannies has included bombardments with water balloons and human faeces, dog attacks and the wielding of a shotgun. A beleagured group of residents raised a small fortune to buy their own public address system with which to compete with and drown out the boom box elders.
The State position hardened in support of the majority of non-dancers with a Government representative commenting that "Old people haven't gone bad, it's bad people who have got old".
In order to control and suppress the line dancing phenomena, very much along the lines of dealing with spiritual or democratic opposition, the State produced a promotional or instructional video of 12 specific and healthy routines. These were intended to outlaw and regulate the freestyle elbow wiggles and shoulder shakes so popular amongst the Grannies.
The official line has been that there are no longer different dance routines but unified national routines. The threat of a ban has aroused considerable emotion with publications of mocking cartoons and one Grandma Yan being most vociferous in challenging state intentions.
Faced with such rare public outcry there have been signs of a back-pedalling in the Draconian approach and the emphasis has been relaxed to proposing scientifically sound alternatives.
It appears that Granny power has persisted making the regular body moving and heart pumping its own best advertisement for a happy senior lifestyle.
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