A remarkable 101-year-old woman from China is challenging conventional wisdom on healthy living, attributing her long and vibrant life to a routine many might consider packed with 'bad habits'. Jiang Yueqin, a mother of seven from Wenzhou City, south of Shanghai, still has her full set of teeth and a youthful spirit, describing herself as a 'total night owl'.
The Unconventional Daily Routine of a Centenarian
Jiang's daughter, Yao Songping, paints a picture of a lifestyle that defies standard health advice. Jiang typically stays awake until around 2am watching television, often snacking on crisps, and then sleeps in until about 10am. She condenses her eating into two main meals: a combined breakfast and lunch at brunch time, followed by a second meal around 6pm. However, she feels no guilt about indulging in a midnight snack of crisps or cookies if hunger strikes.
Her morning ritual is simple but cherished: savouring a cup of aromatic green tea before starting her day. Despite her late nights, her daughter insists her sleep quality is excellent, claiming she falls asleep "within seconds of lying down".
The Origins of a 'Night Owl' Lifestyle
This nocturnal pattern began relatively recently. Yao explains that her mother was once highly active, keeping house, entertaining, and taking long walks. A fall that severely injured her hand changed her daily rhythm. With her family stepping in to help more with chores, Jiang found herself with less to occupy her time. She began napping more during the day, which made settling down early in the evening increasingly difficult.
Television became her evening companion, and this new routine gradually became firmly established. Throughout it all, she has maintained a hearty appetite, with a particular fondness for water chestnut cake.
A Lifetime of Love, Travel, and a 'Very Enlightened' Mindset
Beyond her daily habits, Jiang's life story is filled with romance and adventure. She was part of what locals called "the most romantic couple in the neighbourhood" with her late husband, Yao. Illiterate herself, she relied on her husband, who could read, to be her "personal translator". He would take her to the cinema, whispering explanations of the plot into her ear and mimicking characters to make her laugh.
Jiang and her husband travelled across China together, with a trip to the majestic Huangshan mountain in their forties leaving a lasting impression she still recalls with awe. Even at 101, her wanderlust persists. Widowed but undaunted, she has travelled to over 20 cities in the last two years alone, including Dongtou, Yongjia, and Suzhou, ticking destinations off her bucket list with her children and grandchildren.
Yao believes the true secret to her mother's longevity is her outlook. "Most importantly, she has a good mindset," she says. "She doesn't get angry or take things too seriously, she doesn't hold grudges. You could say she lives a very enlightened life." This philosophy, coupled with eating well, sleeping well, and her daily green tea, forms the foundation of a century of life lived fully and on her own terms.
