A woman in China who has lived for over a century and is known for her love of lard rice and her optimistic lifestyle, has inspired millions of people online.
Qiu Chaishi was born in 1901, at a time when China was under the semicolonial and semifeudal rule of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
On January 1, Qiu celebrated her 124th birthday, becoming one of the oldest centenarians in Nanchong city, southwestern China’s Sichuan province, with a family spanning six generations.
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Her granddaughter is 60 years old, and the youngest member of the family is only eight months old.
However, Qiu’s age has not been officially verified by organisations outside China, despite her birth date being listed on her hukou – the country’s household registration system used on the mainland.
Recently, Qiu shared her the secrets of her longevity with the mainland media, emphasising her simple and routine lifestyle.
She eats three meals a day on schedule, takes walks after meals, and goes to bed around 8pm.
Qiu manages chores like combing her hair, lighting fires, and feeding geese on her own, even climbing stairs with ease.
Her favourite dish is porridge made with pumpkin, winter melon, and crushed corn, topped with a spoonful of lard.
Her granddaughter said she has a soft spot for lard, but now eats it in moderation on doctors’ advice.
Qiu’s early years were marked by hardship.
She said that during the Qing dynasty, many people starved to death while searching for wild vegetables in the mountains.
“But I made it through,” she said.
Before marriage, Qiu earned respect in her village for her sharp accounting skills and impressive physical strength, often tackling the toughest farm tasks such as ploughing fields and stacking stones.
In her 40s, tragedy struck when her husband died suddenly, leaving her to raise four children alone.
Despite financial struggles, she worked tirelessly to ensure her children had new clothes and food.
Heartbreak returned in her 70s when her eldest son died of an illness, and her daughter-in-law remarried, leaving behind a granddaughter.
Qiu stepped up once more, raising her granddaughter alone. Years later, her granddaughter faced a troubled marriage, losing her husband due to illness.
Now, Qiu lives with her granddaughter in a three-story rural house in Nanchong.
After turning 100, she experienced some decline in vision and hearing but remained sharp-witted and articulate.
“My siblings, husband, and son passed away long ago. The King of Hell must have forgotten about me and will not take me!” she joked.
“Grandma never complains,” said her granddaughter, Qiu Taohua.
“After every misfortune, she stays quiet for a while, then bounces back with laughter and positivity.”
One netizen called Qiu a “blessed star”, and said: “A peaceful and optimistic attitude is her key secret to longevity.”
“She has witnessed China’s incredible history over a century. What a legendary life journey!” said another.
Qiu is one of 960 centenarians in Nanchong.
According to the 2020 National Census, China is home to 119,000 centenarians, the highest number in the world.
A 2023 report from the National Health Commission further highlighted China’s rising average life expectancy, at 78.6 years.
Hong Kong stood out globally in 2024, with the highest average life expectancy at 85.63 years, according to United Nations estimates cited by Worldometer.
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