在中国的城市里，尽管人潮汹涌，或者也许正是因为如此，居民可能会感到非常孤独。
In China's cities, despite the huge crowds, or maybe because of them, residents can feel very isolated.
如今，一种被称为“孤独经济”的新兴产业已经出现，人们通过提供陪伴服务来帮助老年人。
Now, a new industry being dubbed the "loneliness economy" has emerged, with people hiring themselves out as companions to help the elderly.
BBC的中国记者斯蒂芬·麦克唐奈尔（Stephen McDonell）前往一家提供此类服务的公司进行探访，以了解他们的业务是如何运作的。
The BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell visits a company that does just that, to see how their business works.