A just-concluded web page designing contest exclusive for the elderly has attracted more than 8,000 participants above 50 years old over the past two months in Shanghai, the organizer said on Thursday (Dec 7).

Wang Shundi, a 79-year-old retired lady living in the city's Hongkou District, was awarded an honorary title of "The Most Senior Participant" on Thursday.

"Designing web page enriches my life and makes me feel closer to the young people," she said. "I felt 20 years younger in the contest"

Wang said she had studied web page designing for four months together with a few friends before attending the contest.

The contest is aimed at encouraging more and more senior citizens in Shanghai to learn better about the Internet world, said Ma Haitao, executive vice secretary-general of the Shanghai Internet Services Association, a non-governmental organization.

"A lot of elderly people have been indeed inspired to touch, study and understand the Internet world through the contest," he said.

About 30 other elderly people were awarded different prizes on Thursday, such as the best creative work and the best fine arts work. They presented works on themes of science, technology, patriotism, Olympics, World Expo, personal life and others.

The contest has won the support of the local government authorities concerned, such as the Shanghai Municipal Information Commission.

"The designing of web page, which is a little bit difficult, is no longer the patent of young people," said Yuan Guohua, director of the Industry Guidance office of the commission.

Shanghai has about 2.6 million people above the age 60 years old out of the city's 17 million population.

Editor: Wing