A woman, who has just turned 124, has revealed the secret to a long life; eating lard.
Qiu Chai was born on 1 January 1901 and is believed to be the oldest person in her city – and possibly, the world.
As of 1 January 2025, Tomiko Itooka, of Japan, holds the Guinness World Record for this title at 116 years old.
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So maybe there’s a new contender.
She celebrated the monumental birthday in her century-old house, surrounded by friends and family.
As red lanterns and red carpet adorned the space, she revealed her secrets to a long, healthy life.
The grandma stated that eating three meals a day, taking walks in her garden or her local area and going to bed after 8pm every night is a must.
But more importantly, eating a simple meal of rice mixed with a piece of lard “the size of a table tennis ball”, as reported by Need To Know.
Despite doctors ordering her to eat less animal fat after suffering from eye and ear diseases, she isn’t stopping anytime soon.
She dressed for the big day in a red fluffy hat and matching scarf, as well as a pattered gown.
The younger generations, including her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, bowed and paid their respects, while a huge cupcake tower was delivered to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’
Qiu, from Huagang Town, Nannan County, Nanchong City, China, still combs her hair, feeds the geese and burns firewood, with no issue.
As a youngster, she used to eat a big bowl of noodles with oil every night, too.
For now, though, she sticks to her aforementioned simple meal of lard rice, mixed with grains and fresh vegetables.
She raised four children alone in difficult circumstances, amidst the grief of her husband’s premature death, and at the age of 70, she lost her eldest son.
Now, Mrs Qiu Chai lives with her 60-year-old granddaughter, Qiu Taohua, and every year, locals continue to gather to celebrate her long life.
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