With the development of medical treatment and scientific technology, longevity is no longer a vision, and the average life expectancy in our country is increasing year by year. Research shows that the number of people over 90 years old in China has nearly doubled in the past 10 years.
According to data, the top 10 regions in China with the longevity are Hainan, Shanghai, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, Henan, and Sichuan.
In Foshan, there is a town that is well-known for longevity as well.
Old trees, an ancient village and long-lived elders... these makes a unique view for Lubao Town, Sanshui. The Town of Longevity of China is in Sanshui, and the secret of Sanshui's longevity lies deep in Lubao Town. There are a large number of long-lived elderly people in Lubao Town, with 1304 people over 80 years old, including 10 people over 100 years old, and there is one centenarian for every 4,000 people. A strong atmosphere of filial piety and respect for the elderly has been formed in the town. The village often holds a dinner banquet, where all the elders in the village are invited. The villagers chat and have dinner together, which helps build a friendly neighbour relationship. It seems that the genes for longevity and the culture of filial piety are deeply rooted in this thousand-year-old town.
In the eastern outskirts of Lubao Town, there are ancient villages that were built in the Ming Dynasty. In this ancient village of ancient beauty, people are simple, honest and unspoiled. And there are not only ancient trees that tell the vicissitudes of the years, but also long-lived old people witnessing the changes of the times. There are 13 long-lived elderly people over 90 years old and one centenarian. This is the ancient village of Changqi, which was named one of the most beautiful longevity villages in the Pearl River Delta in 2016.
According to the United Nations standard, to become a longevity area, there must be more than 7.5 centenarians per 100,000 people. At present, Changqi Ancient Village has a population of about 1,200, and there are 266 elderly people over 60 years old, including 142 elderly people aged 60-69, 64 elderly people aged 70-79, 52 elderly people aged 80-89, 13 elderly people aged over 90, and 1 centenarian. The proportion of centenarians in the population of the village far exceeds the United Nations standard.
The latest data shows that there are 1304 people over 80 years old in Lubao Town, including 10 people over 100 years old. It is said that the town's current household registration population is close to 40 thousand people, which means the proportion of elderly people aged 80 or above accounts for 3.26% of the registered population, and the percentage of centenarians in household registration is about 0.025%. The percentage of centenarians is not only higher than that of the United Nations standard, but also higher than that of the whole area of Sanshui.
At present, the population over 80 years old in Lubao Town is mainly in Changqi, Dushugang, Sihe, Xihe, Shangtang, Liuzhai and other villages. Eight of the 10 centenarians are women. Old trees, ancient villages and long-lived old people have become the cultural characteristics of Lubao Town.
In Lubao Town, there is a memorial archway built in the 15th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu with the inscription Bai Ling Shuang Rui (meaning two centenarians with luck). It seems that the longevity gene of Lubao Town has existed since ancient times.
When it comes to the hometown of longevity, people often think of idyllic and long-distance places away from the downtown area. People may believe it should not be an economically developed, bustling place, as we all agree that busy city life is not 100% healthy for the mind and the body. However, Lubao Town is just the opposite. Historically, this was a commercial port, known as a smaller version of Guangzhou. The industrial and commercial development was therefore particularly early. Later, in the wave of industrialization in Sanshui, Lubao Town had accumulated a solid industrial foundation for equipment manufacturing and auto parts. The cultural tourism industry had developed rapidly, and now it has formed a cultural tourism industry pattern with large scenic spots such as Xujiang Ancestral Temple, Lubao Hot Springs, Outlets, and Changqi Ancient Village.
Both the longevity characteristic and multiple industries make Lubao Town unique in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In these years of development, how has Lubao inherited and continuously strengthened its longevity gene, and realized the simultaneous development of economy, society and the health of the people?
The advantage of natural environment is one of the factors of longevity. Lubao Town is located in the northern part of Sanshui. It has a subtropical marine monsoon climate with abundant rainfall and mild climate. It is suitable for people to live in with no severe heat in summer nor severe cold in winter, but more importantly, Lubao town has not destroyed the ecological environment in its economic development. Instead, it has optimized the ecological environment and living environment of its jurisdiction through a series of measures, such as the activation of ancient villages, the construction of ecological civilization, and strict environmental protection.
In Lubao Town, villages with mountains and rivers on the sides like Changqi ancient village are pretty common. The natural resources and pleasant scenery creates a livable environment for the population in the area. In addition, there is one of the three famous radon springs near Changqi ancient village - Lubao Hot Spring. The hot spring water is rich in metasilicic acid, radon, lithium, fluorine and other mineral elements that are beneficial to human health.
Experts believe that 15% of a person’s health and longevity depends on heredity, 10% on social conditions, 8% on medical conditions, 7% on the natural environment, and 60% on the individual’s lifestyle. In other words, even if people have a good natural environment, they might not live long. The key is to have a good lifestyle.
Just like the long-lived elders in Lubao Town mentioned earlier in this article, they not only have a light diet and work out, but also have a happy and harmonious family and an optimistic and cheerful mood. They often participate in social activities in the village. In Sanshui, the long-lived elders have something in common - an optimistic and cheerful personality, a positive and healthy lifestyle, peace of mind with a happy family.
Lubao Town has always enriched the life of the elderly and inherited the culture of filial piety through rich and diverse folk events and neighborhood activities. In Changqi ancient village, a private bureau of folk art and a calligraphy and painting creation base have been specially set up. Passing by the ancient buildings in the village, you can often hear the melodious vocal music or enjoy the artwork of calligraphy, which has injected vitality and art into the ancient village. With the gradual improvement of cultural venues and the rapid development of literary and art associations, the daily life of the elderly has been greatly enriched and a happy and healthy living atmosphere has been created.
In Dushugang Village, on the Double Ninth Festival every year when the dinner banquet is held, colorful flags flutter in the Cai's Ancestral Hall with the music played by gongs and drums. More than 200 tables are put outside the ancestral hall, and elderly who are over 53 years old in the village are invited to the banquet. Usually there will be no empty seat left. This is a traditional activity to show respect to the elderly in the village for more than 30 years. From the beginning, only dozens of seats were placed in the ancient temple in the village, but now the scale of the feast is getting bigger and bigger. With the continuous development of the village's collective economy in recent years, Dushugang Village has continued to increase care for the elderly, holding this dinner banquet, home visits and other activities. Lubao Town takes the effort in caring the elders so that the seniors people there can live a peaceful life. If you do not live in Lubao Town, that’s fine, as we have concluded the keys to longevity for you.
Natural conditions
The environment plays an important role in people’s health. Most longevity areas have the same characteristics:
Elderly people are relatively weaker in physical fitness and immune function. In areas with severe climate change, the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and joint damage is greater when in extreme high temperature or severe cold for a long time.
Areas with a high longevity index generally have developed water systems, dense river networks, and good water quality.
Plenty of vegetation, seasonal flowers and plants enable the air to be full of rich oxygen ions. Good air quality is not only good for health but also is refreshing.
Good personal habits
Most of the long-lived people have enough time for sleep and good sleep quality.
The survey shows that the average sleep time of the elderly over 100 years old is 9.6 hours, and the average sleep time of the elderly between 80 and 99 years old is 8.33 hours,
However, the sleep time of young elderly people aged 60 to 79 is only 7.64 hours.
Most long-lived elderly people have their own hobbies, and many people find something to do after retirement. All parts of the body get full exercise.
Perennial smoking not only hurts the lungs, but also causes oral diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, reduces bone density, and even damages the brain.
Alcohol damages the liver, intestines, and brain, and accelerates aging.
For long-lived people, the overall diet is quite light, and 90% of long-lived elderly eat vegetables every day.
People with a long life normally have a regular life routine. Good rest and enough exercise, and moderate exercise will help maintain a stable mentality and prolong life.
Regular physical examination helps to understand one's own health risk factors and can prevent problems before they happen and treat them in time.
