A woman who has lived to 101 has revealed her surprisingly laid-back secrets behind her long life.
Jiang Yueqin, a mother-of-seven from Wenzhou City in eastern China, still has a full set of teeth and says she enjoys nothing more than snacking on treats while watching ‘trashy’ television into the early hours.
Despite her age, Jiang sticks to a relaxed daily routine. She eats just two square meals a day, but isn’t shy about indulging in late-night snacks if she feels hungry.
The centenarian often stays up until as late as 2am and usually doesn’t wake until around 10am. Once up, she enjoys a cup of fragrant green tea before getting dressed and starting her day.
Living south of Shanghai, Ms Yueqin typically eats her first meal at brunch, followed by dinner at around 6pm, proving that longevity doesn’t always require a strict lifestyle or rigid routine.
Her daughter Yao Songping said: ‘My mum is just like a teenager, a total night owl!
‘She always stays up until the early hours of the morning and then wakes up naturally at around 10am.
‘She combines breakfast and lunch and eats her second meal around 6pm.
‘If she’s hungry at night, she’ll snack on crisps and cookies.
‘But don’t let her late nights fool you, her sleep quality is excellent.
‘She falls asleep within seconds of lying down.’
She added: ‘My mum’s late-night habits started a few years ago and there’s a reason for it.’
Yao said her mother used to be very active, keeping the house clean and tidy, entertaining visitors, and enjoying long walks.
But she suffered a fall and badly injured her hand and since then her family does more to help her out.
With her days free of tasks, she started to sleep more and soon found it hard to go to bed early at night.
She then got into the habit of watching TV and, over time, her new sleep pattern formed.
Ms Yueqin also has a healthy appetite and said her favourite food is water chestnut cake.
Her husband Yao passed away many years ago, but locals still talk about him.
They lived on the same street for many years and they became known as ‘the most romantic couple in the neighbourhood’.
Yao said: ‘My mother is illiterate and can’t read a single character, my father could read and was my mother’s personal translator when they were young.
‘When they were dating, the first thing my father would do after getting his wages was buy cinema tickets and take her hand as they entered the screening room.
‘If my mother couldn’t understand the plot, he would whisper in her ear and explain.
‘And when there were funny scenes, he would imitate the characters’ voices and gestures to make her laugh.’
According to Yao, her elderly mother still reminisces about her trips around China with her husband.
She said: ‘When they were in their forties, they went to Huangshan together.
‘Whenever she talks about this trip, she always sighs and says ‘the mountain was so tall, and the scenery was so beautiful, just like in a painting.’
Despite being widowed and 101 years of age, Ms Yueqin still likes to travel with her children and grandkids.
In the past two years, Jiang has travelled to Dongtou, Yongjia, Jinhua, Suzhou and other places.
She has visited over 20 cities in total, fulfilling her travel dreams.
Yao summarised: ‘My mother has spent her whole life taking care of others and rarely thinking about herself.
‘Eating well, sleeping well, and drinking a cup of green tea every day are all small things.
‘Most importantly, she has a good mindset.
‘She doesn’t get angry or take things too seriously, she doesn’t hold grudges.
‘You could say she lives a very enlightened life.’
Elsewhere, Newbury Grove, a residential home operated by Care UK, housed four centenarians as of March last year.
One resident, Barbra Evans, 103, who passed away last September, said: ‘the secret to living to 100 is to be yourself, don’t be someone that you’re not, and always tell the truth.’
Phyllis Inglut, a Newbury resident who passed away last week at the age of 106, said last year that the secret to a long life is acknowledging that nothing really lasts forever.
