Amidst the cheerful drumbeats, senior citizens express their joy in living an elderly life of affluence.

In Hongguang village of Daowai district, Harbin, capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, senior citizens of a percussion instrument team practice their performances in red costumes, showcasing a comfortable happiness and vitality on Nov 20.

Led by the fast drumbeat in the chilly wind of winter, the reporter approached their training ground and was delighted to see their glowing spirit.

Members of the percussion instrument team in Hongguang village practice their performance in Daowai district, Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Nov 20, 2014. [Photo/heb.wenming.cn]

"I used to be a drummer of a team in our company. When I found the majority in our village are retirees with plenty of time, I realized that I can keep playing drums with my peers in our village," said the 69-year-old Lin Yuzhi, founder of the percussion instrument team in 2008.

Lin further explained: "Before entering the team, most of us have never touched a drum, not to mention how to handle the rhythm of a drumbeat. However, the village invited professional teachers from the Harbin Culture Center for us. Full of passion, we trained hard and qualified for a show after several months."

"Whenever there are cultural events in our village, town or district, our team will be invited to perform!" said Xu Kun, a member of the team, in a proud voice.

Members of the percussion instrument team in Hongguang village practice their performance in Daowai district, Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Nov 20, 2014. [Photo/heb.wenming.cn]

"All of us are retirees of village-run enterprises. The enterprise supports our team, and we can focus on improving our skills. Our team members are rather stable, and we have improved our performance level together," said Ji Guizhen, who loved musical instruments when she was a little girl and realized her stage dream in the percussion instrument team.

In Hongguang village, there are no farms. People make a living from the village-run enterprise—Hongguang Boiler Group Co. Among 798 villagers, more than 200 villagers work in the group, while the majority of the rest are retirees of the company.

Senior citizens in the village enjoy social security insurance and medical insurance, as well as 300 yuan in subsidies for cultural activities every month. The group provides instruments, costumes and logistics services during performances for the percussion instrument team.

"The percussion instrument team has made the spirit of the whole village glow. It is a spiritual wealth that money cannot buy. We will keep supporting the team," said Xu Zaishan, general manager of Hongguang Boiler Group Co, with pride overflowing his smiling face.

Members of the percussion instrument team in Hongguang village practice their performance in Daowai district, Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Nov 20, 2014. [Photo/heb.wenming.cn]