Quote:Lilith Jiang, the founder of the all-women cultural space "Half the Sky" in Beijing, said these community-oriented facilities fill a void.

"Men have plenty of opportunities to socialise, while drinking or while exercising," she said.

"Women don't have that."

Down the line, she said non-traditional structures could offer an alternative for single women worried about aging alone.

"Women are constantly told: 'If you don't get married, what will become of you when you get older?'" said Jiang.

"But long-term, all-female shared co-living spaces where women can grow old together could be a solution."