Shanghai, the city with the highest life expectancy in China, had 923 centenarians by Sept. 30, 2010, official figures released Thursday indicated.

The metropolitan area had a population of over 19 million at the end of 2009; more than 22.5 percent were senior citizens aged 60 years and above, according to figures released by the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

The number of centenarians in Shanghai has grown at an annual rate of 13 percent between 2000 and 2009, records show.

Shanghai was declared the first Chinese city to become an "aging society" in 1999.

Shanghai held an annual talent competition for the elderly, which ended Thursday. Li Suqing, 111, won the top prize and was crowned the oldest, most talent female centenarian in Shanghai.