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How do they live to be over 100 ?

By Sun Yuqing (www.chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-07-19 16:08

Zhongxiang City, located in the central part of Hubei Province, is famous for the longevity of its residents. According to a census conducted in July 2004, among the 1.05 million population 11,073 are over 80 years old, 946 are over 90 years old, and 71 are over 100 years old. The average life expectancy is 75.88 years in Zhongxiang City.

What's the secret to a long life? What can stop the process of aging? Maybe there are no universal answers, but the living methods adopted by most here at least can offer some valuable advice.

Daily Work

A good lifestyle based on constant labor and a harmonious family are two of the key reasons. Li Fengsheng, 106, doesn't like sitting around without doing anything. Now she does laundry, sews, and cleans the house all by herself. She gets up at six every morning, cleans the courtyard, and sometimes picks plants to feed the pigs.

Eat a healthy diet

People in Zhongxiang like eating food made of soybean, and almost half of those over 100 years old like moderate and regular drinking. One hundred and five-year-old Zhang Lanying said that she even made bean curd herself when she was eighty. For most over 100 years old, soybean milk is an essential part of breakfast. Shi Shangbing, 102, said that he works and drinks everyday.

Some experts are interested in studying longevity in Zhongxiang. In June 2003, the local government helped to establish an Aging Research Institute to explore the secrets of long life. Tourism has grown as people come to Zhongxiang who want to experience the simple and healthy lifestyle that has helped these people to live past 100 years old.

[Pan Songgang/China Population News,Pan Songgang's Blog]

Li Fengsheng, 106, arranges soybeans in Lihe Village, Linkuang Town, Zhongxiang City, Central China's Hubei Province.