Seniors' rights protected by law

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, which falls on Oct 9 this year.

Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", "Jiu Jiu," Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worthy of celebration.

Senior people in China -- at and above the age of 60 -- numbered 222 million by the end of 2015, marking the country's birth as a silver society.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the responsibility to take care of the elderly has been enshrined in the Constitution and various civil laws.

Protection of the rights and interests of senior people in China is reflected in many sectors of society.

According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (2015 Amendment), seniors have the right to obtain material assistance from the State.

Besides, the law provides that they may rely on their families, who are required to care for and look after them.

China has also established an old-age insurance system to ensure elders' basic needs.

According to law, if the elderly really have difficulty in paying the cost of lawsuits they file against infringement on their lawful rights and interests, they may postpone paying it, pay a smaller amount or be exempted from it.

Other legal provisions protect the right of seniors in China to enjoy freedom of marriage, and to receive continued education.