The Chinese government has been carrying out economic and social reforms for decades. But these reforms - which cover health, education and housing - only serve the rich while further impoverishing the poor. The elderly are the worst affected. I read this on a Chinese blog: "In the countryside, old people should try to live in detention centres, because their standard of living would be better there than outside." In towns, many of the aged survive by collecting rubbish, selling bric-a-brac or begging. But all these activities are declared illegal by the government, which only cares about making the city more beautiful.