This story has spread far and wide on Hainan Island, which also has the epithet, Changshou (Longevity) Island. Hainan is noted for being the home of more than 20,000 senior residents over the age of 90, who are in good health and lead a happy life. The Nanshan Longevity Cultural Week and the Award Ceremony for Hainan Province's Top Ten Elders have given visitors reason to believe that the beautiful rivers and hills on the island help prolong the life-span of locals.

When word spread that the province had decided to select a "Nanshan god of longevity" in late July, 2000, all senior citizens over 90 were eager to participate in the competition, and made preparations similar to those of high school graduates taking their college entrance exams.

A man aged 96 from Chengmai County walked 2.5 kilometers to the county seat in spite of the summer heat, and climbed the stairs leading to an office on the third story of the provincial office building to add his name to the list of competitors. When asked, why not let his son or grandson do this for him, he answered, with a wink, "How can I prove that I am still healthy if I don't do it myself?"

Another gentleman, aged 100, called almost daily after registering. He was crestfallen and depressed for days on being regretfully informed that he was not eligible as a candidate due to a slight limp resulting from a fracture that had occurred when he was 98.

Wu Huaigu, aged 96, is from the Chengmai County seat. She still dries rice in the sun and carries loads on a shoulder pole. After learning she had been selected as one of the Hainan Province's Top Ten Elders, she told everyone the news in girlish excitement.

According to Sui Zhiyan, vice-chairman of Hainan Provincial Women's Federation, the criteria for the Nanshan God of Longevity and the top ten elders is stringent. The requirements include: a minimum age of 90, good health, strong arms and legs, good hearing and eyesight, the capacity for a little work in the fields, taking care of one self and having regular communication in daily life, harmonious relations with family members and neighbors, and enthusiasm for promoting the public good.

The Sanya Nanshan Longevity Cultural Festival is held every year on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and has been designated as the day for rewarding the "god of longevity" and those who have lived to a ripe old age. Chinese longevity connotations are summarized in the analogy: happiness as boundless as the East China Sea and longevity that compares to Southern Mountain.

Early on the day in question, the elders all boarded chartered buses and converged at Southern Mountain. As soon they got off, waiting tourists rushed to have their pictures alongside these seniors, believing that they too would have happy and long if they had their pictures taken with them on this festival.

Hu Kaiyuan, 110 years old, became the focus for photographers and tourists taking pictures. He was welcomed and escorted by a chubby little boy. The juxtaposition of advanced and tender ages made a charming picture.

After breakfast, they walked to the front of the Yuanqi Building and, while awaiting the opening of the award ceremony, walked along a long corridor covered with Chinese wisteria.

"Look, there is a picture of me!" said one in surprise. Many of them had no idea that some of their recently taken pictures had been enlarged and put on show. The first Hainan Province Century Gods of Longevity Photographic Portrait Exhibition actually opened that day. There were more than 50 photos of elders over 95 in their daily life on show.

All were eager to scrutinize the photos one by one to see whether or not theirs were on display. "Oh, no, I don't look as bad as that," exclaimed one grandma as she found her picture that made her look as though she had only two teeth. Hu Kaiyuan shouted, "This picture of my sixth-generation grandson is great." He was delighted and proud that there were three photos of him on display.

"Why didn't they put mine on show?" wondered another grandma, "They came to my home as well and took pictures." She looked disappointed after double checking all the photos, and resolved to ask the photographers to take more of her. Suddenly, photographers surrounded her on the spot, saying, "Say cheese, Grandma. The pictures we are about to take of you are for enlargement," as they clicked their shutters.

On hearing all this laughter and jollity, others came over saying, "Why are you only taking pictures of her? We want ours taken too."

Among those taking a rest on a bench in the long corridor, a couple was recognized, and the lady was requested to "kiss her husband's cheek" -- a task she dispatched with ease and pleasure. Her husband was asked to pin a flower to her hair, which he did more shyly.

It was time for the opening ceremony. Hu Kaiyuan headed their column as they walked towards the meeting place a few hundred meters away, on a spacious lawn under the blue sky, with white clouds floating over and a light breeze blowing.

First of all, 39 representatives of the Hainan Outstanding Elders, and the "God of Longevity" among Hainan Province's Top Ten Elders, were invited to sit on the rostrum. Hu Kaiyuan, from Sima Village at the foot of Southern Mountain, was accorded the honor of "God of Longevity" for his good health, his harmonious family relations and his advanced age of 110. Hu had begun to feel impatient, as others got their awards and representatives made their speeches, thinking that he might have been forgotten. As it happened, he was the last one to be presented a certificate, a bunch of flowers and a red envelope, after which he let photographers take as many pictures as they pleased as he sat in the place of honor at the center of the rostrum.

After returning to his seat, Hu Kaiyuan put down the certificate and the flowers, but held on to the red envelope containing cash. First, he felt the thickness of the envelope and tried to estimate how much it contained. He then opened the envelope and counted his cash. After a few seconds, he replaced it and tucked the envelope in his shirt pocket, and watched the children's performances.

Sources indicate that work and the maintenance of good cheer are the secrets of longevity. Take Hu Kaiyuan for instance. Farming and hunting have kept him busy and healthy all his life. After turning 100, he was still capable of taking care of himself, and he walks the one kilometer to his grandson's shop to chat with other Hainan natives with ease.

The 99-year-old Fu Zhaoqing from Dingan County was the accountant in his production brigade when younger. He reads the newspaper every day, as well as continuing to read books. He likes to tell stories from the Romance of Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West in his still sonorous voice.

Fu Lihua, aged 98, is particularly respected by locals for her mischievous sense of humor. She frequently takes the bus from Haikou to her native home of Wenchang.

Han Wujie is as neat and tidy as ever she was, and still walks briskly, despite her 96 years. It is no hardship for her to walk a few kilometers to see her grandsons. She plays cards with her neighbors almost every day, and prefers to deposit any money her sons and grandsons may give her into her bank account personally. On the day she came to Nanshan, she went to do a little shopping, in the manner of someone barely over 60.

Wang Yuyao is 93, and full of vigor and energy. He used to be a member of the Qionghai City Committee of the CPPCC. An overseas Chinese returned from Indonesia, he has devoted his life to education. He won tremendous prestige among locals for raising one million yuan for the local education fund through his connections, relatives and friends in foreign countries.

On Hainan Island, the hills truly are beautiful, the rivers bright and clean, and people enjoy a happy and long life.

(Chinatoday.com 05/16/2001)