'Curtain agreement' ensures safety of seniors in Shanxi

Volunteers check on well-being of older adults by innovative open-shut system

The simple act of opening and closing the curtains is being used in the Xinghualing district of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, to ensure the safety and well-being of more than 400 elderly residents living there.

Known as the "curtain agreement", the practice, which has been in place for nearly four years, has become a vital part of the community's daily routine.

Zhang Jianzhong, 60, a former train driver for China State Railway Group, came up with the idea for the practice in 2021.