A villager takes his meal home from the canteen in Nanbeiguan village, Yuzhong county, Gansu province. WU YUEXUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

At lunchtime, the country roads in Nanbeiguan village, Yuzhong county, Gansu province, grow busy as elderly residents make their way to the same destination. Carrying bowls and chopsticks, some arrive on their small three-wheeled vehicles, heading for a community canteen in the village.

Inside, the aroma of freshly cooked food fills a brightly lit dining room lined with long tables. In the yard, several elderly women sit on small stools, chatting as they sort vegetables they have brought from home. In the kitchen, others are busy preparing lunch.

Opened on May 11, the canteen serves more than 170 elderly residents every day from Nanbeiguan and several neighboring villages. Some eat there, while others take meals home. The oldest diner is 94.

The canteen was converted from an unused building during reconstruction efforts after floods hit Yuzhong in August 2025. Its operation is supported by government funding, a village-level fund known as the "filial piety fund", local businesses, charitable donors and contributions from villagers.

"Many younger adults have left to work elsewhere, so it is common for elderly people to live alone. They would often just make do with whatever food they had," said Chen Guanghong, Party chief of Nanbeiguan village.

"The canteen has eased the burden on elderly residents and given their children greater peace of mind."