Lin Yongqing, 103, likes counting banknotes in bed. (Photo/scol.com.cn)
(ECNS)-- The southwestern Chinese city of Pengzhou is known as a home for longevity, with 49 centenarians among its population of 780,000 who seem to share some simple common traits for living longer -- be content and eat coarse grains often.
Located 36 kilometers northwest of Sichuan Province's capital of Chengdu, Pengzhou has a warm, humid climate, abundant water and a beautiful natural environment. Most of those above 100 years old live in its rural areas and have worked at farming for a long time, a hardy existence that built up their health, especially their cardiovascular system.
In Tianpeng town, the seat of the Pengzhou government, seven residents out of a total population of 166,000 have now lived more than 100 years. A brief study of their living habits reveals secrets to a longer life, reported local news portal scol.com.cn.
The aged usually live in peace of mind, enjoy what they have, stay away from being competitive and are ready to help others. Their diets are mainly comprised of coarse grains, vegetables and have lighter flavors. Besides keeping regular diets and avoiding overeating or too much meat, the centenarians also have the habit of sleeping and rising early.
Lin Yongqing, 103 years old, is known as outspoken and likes keeping nothing in his heart. He loves listening to traditional opera and his favorite foods are eggs and meatballs. Surprisingly, Lin eats six times a day, as his wife, also in her 90s, is always around to cook.
Lin worked all his professional life for a bank as a cashier, forming a strong affinity for counting bank notes. He still misses his career, so when lying in bed, his children bring a bundle of money for him to count. Lin sometimes counts the money dozens of times a day. His second hobby is smoking cigarettes.
At 105 years old, Ma Wenxian still has a good memory, a clear mind, good visual and hearing abilities, and smooth language. Living on the third floor, she has no trouble climbing up and down the stairs several times a day completely on her own.
Ma usually starts her day with a cup of green tea at 7 a.m., followed by a breakfast of eggs and a small bowl of corn flour soup. No matter how delicious the food is, Ma only eats until she is about 70 percent full. Fond of growing flowers and playing mahjong, Ma is known for her good temper and has never argued with neighbors in dozens of years.
Yu Liangxiu, 104, keeps busy with activities ranging from pulling weeds to sweeping the floor and cleaning the roads near her home, although her children and grandchildren urge her to take a break.
She has three meals a day with her son and daughter-in-law. It was only last year that she quit drinking liquor. She keeps a teddy bear as her companion.
Liu Guiyun, 102, lives with his 75-year-old blind son, taking care of him as if he were still a baby. Liu's own eyes are still so sharp he can put a thread through a needle without a magnifying glass. No wonder that the father mends the clothes of the family. Liu eats meat every day, mostly fat because of his poor teeth, and occasionally sips liquor.
Considering her sound health, cheerful disposition and nimble movements, few believe that Liu Zhihui is 102 years old. After getting up at six, she cleans the house, prepares food to feed the chickens and collects branches to make a fire. She still has a good appetite, favoring stewed chicken, stewed goose, pork joint, and ciba, a type of glutinous rice cake. The sociable woman likes to strike up a conversation with any stranger who passes her house.
With five daughters and two sons, Zhang Dengxiu gave birth to the youngest son, who still lives with her, at age 54. The 101-year-old has no ailments except poor hearing. She cooks for her son first and then makes her own meal. Occasionally, she helps with the laundry, pulls weeds from the fields and keeps two small dogs.
"These (activities) help me exercise and I also live my life fully," said Zhang.
