At lunchtime, the country roads in Nanbeiguan village, Yuzhong county, Gansu province, grow busy as elderly residents make their way to the same destination. Carrying bowls and chopsticks, some arrive on their small three-wheeled vehicles, heading for a community canteen in the village.

Inside, the aroma of freshly cooked food fills a brightly lit dining room lined with long tables. In the yard, several elderly women sit on small stools, chatting as they sort vegetables they have brought from home. In the kitchen, others are busy preparing lunch.

Opened on May 11, the canteen serves more than 170 elderly residents every day from Nanbeiguan and several neighboring villages. Some eat there, while others take meals home. The oldest diner is 94.

The canteen was converted from an unused building during reconstruction efforts after floods hit Yuzhong in August 2025. Its operation is supported by government funding, a village-level fund known as the "filial piety fund", local businesses, charitable donors and contributions from villagers.

"Many younger adults have left to work elsewhere, so it is common for elderly people to live alone. They would often just make do with whatever food they had," said Chen Guanghong, Party chief of Nanbeiguan village.

"The canteen has eased the burden on elderly residents and given their children greater peace of mind."

Chen helps coordinate the lunch service every day. Six village staff members, including the head of the village women's federation, regularly volunteer in the kitchen. Some elderly residents also bring homegrown vegetables to help with meal preparation.

For Shen Qingtiao, a villager who often arrives in the morning to help prepare vegetables for the day's meal, the canteen offers more than just food.

"It is a lively, welcoming place where elderly people can gather, enjoy the sunshine, chat over meals and meet people from neighboring villages," she said.

For those unable to make the trip, volunteers and neighbors deliver meals to their homes. The canteen serves one meal at lunchtime each day and also prepares halal food for some residents.

The canteen has also become a venue for other community services. A village doctor visits every Thursday to check residents' blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Free haircuts are offered on Sundays, while film screenings are organized twice a week.

It has also made communication between village officials and residents easier. During lunchtime, Chen can often be found answering questions about a variety of matters, ranging from land contract payments to procedures for pension services. "Now that elderly residents gather here regularly, it is much easier for us to keep them informed about policies. We can explain things face to face, rather than relying only on WeChat messages or going door to door," Chen said.

The village has also introduced a points-based system to encourage participation in community activities and good relations among neighbors. Residents earn or lose points based on their behavior and involvement in village affairs. Those whose points fall below a certain level have to pay for their meals.

Nanbeiguan is one example of how Gansu is expanding community-based elderly care in rural areas.

Across the province, 900 village-level mutual-aid centers are now in operation, with another 300 under construction, according to the provincial civil affairs department. Many centers repurpose vacant village buildings and draw on local resources and community support. Their services and operating arrangements vary according to local needs.

In Yuangudui village, Dingxi, a community canteen serves home-style meals to elderly residents while also catering to visitors and student groups, linking elderly care with rural tourism.

To balance its public-service role with long-term financial sustainability, the canteen operates under a model in which the township government oversees management while a third-party operator handles daily operations. It aims to serve broader community needs through meal provision, convenience services and support for local tourism.

In Longxi county, Dingxi, a "senior care farmland" model offers another approach to sustaining village canteens. With participation voluntary and elderly villagers' land-use rights protected, village collectives manage their contracted farmland, growing local crops such as vegetables and oilseed crops.

The produce is supplied directly to canteens, reducing food procurement costs. Part of the income generated from farming goes into a village-level fund for elderly care, helping cover meal services and daily care, while the remainder supports other community initiatives.

According to the provincial civil affairs department, Gansu plans to expand village-level services beyond meals to include safety monitoring, follow-up care for chronic conditions and companionship, while strengthening links with township care facilities and local health institutions.

By combining paid services with public support for those in need, the province hopes to build a more integrated and financially sustainable rural elderly care network.

Wu Yuexuan contributed to this story.