China will launch a fleet of special “silver trains” specially built for the comfort and safety of elderly people to encourage its rapidly ageing population to travel – and spend – more, as it grapples with a demographic decline and stuttering economy.

As the sun rose over the snow-capped peaks of the Qinling Mountains, a group of silver-haired retirees eagerly boarded a Silk Road-themed tourism train in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

New guidance has been released by nine governmental departments, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China State Railway Group Company and the Ministry of Commerce, which outlines plans to target senior travellers with ample leisure time who are able to travel outside of peak periods, according to China Daily.

China will launch a network of “silver trains” for elderly tourists as part of a plan to unleash the spending power of one of the world’s fastest-ageing populations. An official action plan released on Tuesday by several government departments outlined the need for trains outfitted with medical and old-age services.