On a bright morning, 71-year-old Zhu Jingui leans forward in a packed classroom, pen in hand and eyes fixed on the screen as the teacher demonstrates how to edit a video on a smartphone.

This is a digital skills class at Ningxia Elderly University in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Zhu takes quick notes, capturing not only the lesson but also his determination to stay connected in an increasingly digital world.

"I used to ask my kids about everything," he said. "Now I can pay bills, book train and plane tickets, shop online and order food -- all with the help of my smartphone."

Zhu is among some 16,000 students enrolled at the university, which started as a modest program with just two classrooms in 1984 and has since grown into a vibrant institution offering more than 90 majors, from photography and music to artificial intelligence (AI).

"Since the new campus opened in 2019, enrollment has surged," said Shi Xiaoqing, deputy director of the university's academic affairs office. "Some classes fill up within minutes, and more than half are oversubscribed."

Fully funded by the government, the school charges between 100 and 600 yuan (about 14 to 85 U.S. dollars) per year depending on the course, and is open to anyone aged 50 to 78. The faculty includes university professors, cultural workers and medical professionals.

By the end of 2023, China was home to 76,000 senior universities and schools. Across the country, a growing number of retirees like Zhu are returning to the classroom, forming the world's largest community of elderly learners.

For many, learning has evolved beyond self-improvement. It's about finding a sense of purpose.

Feng Junying, a retiree who once dreamed of becoming a photographer, found her opportunity at a senior university. There, she mastered camera work, video editing and drone photography. She began traveling with classmates across China to capture landscapes and cultural heritage sites, with her award-winning photos now featured in exhibitions.

Recently, she enrolled in an AI course. "Now I use AI to name my photos and generate new ideas," she said. "I want to use these tools to serve society."

Another student, Bai Yuefeng, 66, joined a recitation class eight years ago. At the time, she couldn't speak standard Mandarin. Today, she organizes fashion shows, song performances and anti-fraud awareness plays at her local community center.

For Bai, age is just a number; what matters most is attitude. "We have been given great opportunities and resources," she said. "The most important thing is to give back and stay useful, even in old age."

China is home to the world's largest elderly population, with more than 310 million people aged 60 and above by the end of 2024, accounting for over one-fifth of its total population.

From expanding lifelong learning opportunities and promoting volunteer services to developing senior-friendly tourism, China is taking proactive steps to help older adults lead active, meaningful lives.

As part of a broader push to improve elderly welfare during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has completed home renovations and elderly-friendly facility upgrades for 2.24 million households with special needs, established 2,990 model elderly-friendly communities, and opened 86,000 community canteens for seniors.

Many grandparents are also defying traditional expectations of devoting retirement to childcare, choosing instead to pursue personal growth and fulfillment.

After retiring, Zhu joined the "Silver Age Action" initiative, launched in 2003 to mobilize retirees to volunteer in underdeveloped regions. He spent several years teaching at mountainous schools in Ningxia.

So far, elderly volunteers have participated in the initiative over 7 million times, helping 400 million people through projects supporting rural revitalization, education and public health.

"Those in their 60s are generally healthy, well-educated and rich in life experience and skills," said Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association. "The elderly are a social asset, not a burden."

At Ningxia Elderly University, students talk less about slowing down and more about catching up -- not just with technology, but with life itself. In classrooms filled with laughter and flickering screens, a quiet revolution is unfolding, one that's redefining what it means to age in modern China.

Zhu's schedule remains packed with Tai Chi, yoga, ballroom dance, volunteering and community events. His wife studies cheongsam culture and fitness dance.

"As long as I keep learning, I'll never fall behind the times," he said.