125-year-old woman is oldest Chinese
By IANSSunday, October 17, 2010
BEIJING - A 125-year-old woman is China’s oldest person, a media report said Sunday.
Luo Meizhen, of Bama county in Guangxi Zhuang region, topped the list of the longest-living people in China released Saturday, China Daily reported.
The list was prepared by the China Gerontological Society and issued on the occasion of Chongyang Festival, also known as Seniors’ Day.
Luo, who belongs to Yao ethnic group, was born in 1885. She recently celebrated her birthday.
There are over 43,000 Chinese who are of 100 years or older. This takes the nation into second place in the number of centenarians worldwide, with the US in the first place and Japan third.
“I almost forget how long I’ve been living and for me, tolerance is the key to longevity,” Luo, a housewife, said in a telephonic interview.
The top 10 oldest Chinese, including six women, have an average age of 117.
