The average human life expectancy is usually between 70 and 80 years, with most people beginning to experience the physical and mental effects of aging decades earlier. As our bodies age, they often become more susceptible to disease, and maintaining vitality becomes an increasingly uphill battle. However, one Chinese woman defied all odds and set an example for many years to come.
Qiu Chaishia woman from Nanchun, Sichuan Province, China, celebrated her 124th birthday on January 1. Qiu, who was born in 1901, has lived through more than a century of Chinese history, spanning the Qing Dynasty and the making of modern China. Although her age has not been officially confirmed outside of China, her date of birth is recorded in the hukou system, the country’s household registration system, according to Star.
The Qiu family, which spans six generations, considers her to be one of the oldest living centenarians in the region. Her extended family includes a 60-year-old granddaughter and an eight-month-old great-grandson.
But a long and healthy life requires active efforts to maintain a strict lifestyle. She told The Star that she stays extremely active by eating three meals a day. Her meals are followed by short walks for better digestion. Qiu also mentioned that she sleeps until 8pm every night.
Representative image
Following such a healthy lifestyle, at the age of 124, Kwai can also handle menial tasks on his own, such as combing his hair, lighting fires and feeding the geese. She can even climb stairs with ease. Qui reports that lard rice is made from porridge containing pumpkin, winter melon and shredded corn. Although her love of lard has never gone away, she now eats it in moderation on doctor’s advice.
Qui has been around for over 100 years, which means it has seen China’s transition from the monarchy to the Republic of China. Recalling the time when China was ruled by the Qing Dynasty, Qi said her life was filled with hardship and many people died of starvation, often foraging for wild vegetables in the mountains. Before her marriage, Qiu was well known in her village for her excellent accounting skills and remarkable physical strength, often handling difficult agricultural tasks such as plowing fields and stacking stones.
However, at the age of 40, she faced a great tragedy when her husband died suddenly and she was raising four children alone. Qiu did not lose hope, she persevered and brought up her children with dignity. But as she continued to live a healthy life, she had to witness the death of her eldest son. After Qiu’s daughter-in-law remarried, she was left with a granddaughter whom Qiu raised as his own. Years later, the granddaughter experienced another misfortune: she lost her husband, again becoming a single mother.
Representative image
Qiu now lives with her granddaughter in Nanchun. Although her body deteriorated after she turned 100, her mind and intelligence remained the same. Commenting on her long life, Qiu said, “My brothers and sisters, husband and son died long ago. The King of Hell must have forgotten about me and won’t take me!”
Qiu believes that her secret to a long life is to maintain a positive outlook on life. However, she is not alone centenarians who lives in Nanchun. According to reports, there are about 960 long-lived people living in Nanchang alone.
