An elderly couple conveys their gratitude with their free apartment at Liangyi Village in Taizhou of eastern Zhejiang Province on October 6, 2008. [Photo: zj.chinanews.com.cn]

Elderly people can now reside in new apartments for free in Liangyi Village, Taizhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, CNR.cn reports.

The local village government built three apartment buildings at a cost of 200 million yuan (US$29.23 million) to accommodate senior citizens of their village.

Nearly 300 seniors in the village can enjoy the 222 apartments they offer for free. The apartment buildings also stand ready to accommodate more incoming senior villagers from the village in the future.

Each of the well-furnished apartments offers a bedroom, bathroom, and a kitchen. Some even have living rooms, closets, and entryways.

These apartments, as the happy villagers joke, are almost up to five-star standard. The elderly residents benefit not only from the necessities, but also from recreational facilities like a fitness room, and chess and card rooms they offer on hand.

All women over the age of 55 and men over 60 qualify for the free apartments.