BAMA County in Hechi City, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has earned its name for the large number of longevous residents. With a population of 240,000, the county has 30 people aged above 100 among every 100,000 people. Among the 515 residents in a place called Bapantun, there are six people aged above 100. Most Bama centenarians are living a healthy life. They are said to have maintained good health with normal eyesight and hearing. It’s common to see elderly farmers in their late 70s or 80s work in the fields, peddle on the streets or do other laboring jobs. It is widely assumed that Bama people’s longevity is largely attributed to its pollution-free environment. Local people are fed on home-grown food that contains no added hormone or chemicals. They keep a healthy lifestyle — doing manual work, taking balanced diet, having regular rests and keeping a good mood. The photos were taken in early October. (Anna Zhao, Sun Yuchen) |