BEIJING: To meet accessibility standards, while some buses and subway systems are being renovated to make travel more convenient for people with disabilities and the elderly.
As of July 2026, about 155,000 buses nationwide, accounting for 24.6 percent of the total, were low-floor or low-entry vehicles, according to the report.
Efforts have also been made to improve digital accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly. By the end of 2025, about 11,000 government websites and more than 3,100 other websites, mobile applications and WeChat mini programs, including those operated by news outlets, social media platforms and online shopping services, had been upgraded to better accommodate elderly users. Several commercial mobile applications have also been developed to serve people with visual or hearing impairments. However, Wang said problems persist, including inconsistent construction standards, regional disparities and an inadequate supply of accessible digital products and services.
“Problems such as excessively steep wheelchair ramps, loose grab bars in accessible bathrooms and nonstandard tactile paving for people with visual impairments still exist,” he said, adding that barrier-free facilities remain insufficient in rural areas. He also pointed to shortcomings in digital accessibility, noting that some office software remains inaccessible to people with visual impairments, hindering their equal participation in employment.
Many elderly people and people with disabilities also struggle to use smart devices, with the digital divide particularly pronounced in rural areas.
In addition, the supply of accessible smart devices remains insufficient, with existing products often failing to meet the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly. The limited availability of large-print books and accessible audiovisual products also falls short of meeting the needs of people with low vision and senior citizens, he said.
To address these shortcomings, Wang said the country will strengthen enforcement of the law, introduce more national standards and ensure higher-quality construction of barrier-free facilities.
He also called for greater participation by people with disabilities, the elderly and their organizations in the formulation and revision of accessibility regulations.
“Companies are also encouraged to develop smart accessibility products, such as smart navigation devices, speech recognition systems and artificial intelligence-based sign language translation systems, to better assist people with disabilities and the elderly,” he said.
Wang added that the country will step up policy support, including subsidies and tax incentives, for enterprises and research institutions to accelerate the commercialization of research findings and develop practical products and services that improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and the elderly. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
