Bi Deben says he must eat meat everyday -- how else would he have lived to the age of 103?

The Beijing centenarian says if he has no meat for just a day, he feels "uneasy".

To show off his good health, Bi sings an aria of Beijing Opera loudly to those who consult him on the secret to his longevity.

Statistics from the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Elderly show that Beijing had more than 1.8 million people over the age of 60 by the end of 2003, accounting for 14 percent of the city's 13 million people. More than 257 had passed a century, including three aged 110.

"Exercise improves your health and prolong your life," Bi says in another tip.

He used to be a dustman and worked at construction sites in the capital before he retired in the 1960s. He said he walked constantly since his retirement, which had greatly relieved his arthritis.

However, for 107-year-old Wang Xiuting, a harmonious family life is the key factor to her long life. She speaks proudly of the six members of her family spanning four generations as they all care about and show consideration for each other.

Wang now lives with her daughter-in-law, whom she says is "very filial".

Centenarians shared many similarities in their lifestyles, maintaining healthy habits, getting regular exercise, eating and drinking in moderation, being cheerful, broad-minded and easy-going by nature, and living harmonious family lives, said Wang Shuxin, an official with the Beijing Municipal Aging Research Center, which studied 57 city centenarians.

"Genetic attributes as well as the aforementioned factors possibly contribute to the good health of centenarians and enable them to live a long life," Wang said.

Wang's view is echoed by other experts who study the secrets of longevity.

Wu Cangping, an expert of demography and chairman of the China Senior Citizens Society, says scientific ways of living and a good natural and social environment are key to longevity.

Wu has devoted himself to studying the secrets of longevity, in order to benefit to China in dealing with its aging population and help more people to live healthy and long lives.

China has 130 million people over the age of 60 and the number of people over 80 is increasing by 5 percent annually. However, China has only 17,000 centenarians in a population of 1.3 billion. There are only about 210,000 centenarians worldwide, Wu says.

Old age health is preconditioned by a good health during infancy, childhood and adulthood, says Xu Qin, a research fellow with the China Old Age Science Institute.

Everybody, old or young, benefits, as centenarians have done, from regular exercise, a happy outlook and living a regular life, says Chen Yi, vice-chairman of the Beijing Municipal Association for Senior Citizens. 

(People's Daily March 8, 2004)