BEIJING, Dec. 10 -- As the only country in the world with a senior population of more than 100 million, China has to look at different ways of caring for the elderly.

Cuncaochunhui Home for the Aged in downtown Beijing is providing an alternative for the city's aging problem, by offering nursing home services and providing care for day visitors.

In Beijing, more than 400 people celebrate their 60th birthday every day. About 13.9 percent of its population, or 2.9 million, are above the age of 60. This is equal to the total population of Rome in Italy.

The Beijing municipal government will look to provide social assistance to 90 percent of senior citizens who live at home, purchase community-based caring services for another 6 percent and put the remaining 4 percent in nursing homes by 2020.

"We provide 'fragmented' services such as meal delivery, escorted visits to hospitals, chatting and counseling as well as care for the disabled or partially disabled," said Wang Xiaolong, director of Cuncaochunhui Home.

In one of Beijing's most crowded neighborhoods, Wang's nursing home has just 100 beds, but through its day-care and visiting services, an average 500 senior residents are taken care of every day.

"Most seniors still have to and also prefer to stay at home with family members around. Therefore, home-based care should be the foundation," said Wang, who set up the nursing home two years ago because his father lacked suitable care.

"From now on in Beijing, newly built residential areas should contain care facilities for the aged," said Dai Junliang, deputy mayor of Beijing. "Enterprises that provide aged care services will be offered preferential policies and tax breaks."

China's population above age 60 reached 194 million at the end of last year, and is expected to exceed 300 million by 2025.

According to international standards, a country or region is considered to have an "aging society" when the number of people at and above 60 reaches 10 percent or more of its total population.

It is estimated that the percentage of China's aging population will reach 16.7 percent of the total population in the next five years, and about 30 percent by 2050.

"Our aging market is simply too large to be ignored, whether you are a domestic or foreign investor," said Li Hongbin, spokesman of Beijing municipal civil affairs bureau.

In October the municipal government issued two documents concerning stepping up the development of the aging industry in Beijing, in which foreign investment is welcomed.

"We are eager to assist foreign investors who are interested in China's aging market," Li said.