What makes Bama's residents live longer?
Bama Yao autonomous county in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was established in 1956. The local authority conducted a population census and was stunned by the result: Of a population of 130,000, there were 15 people aged more than 100 and dozens aged above 80.
At that time, the life expectancy in China was only 45, according to World Population Prospects, the 2008 Revision, released by the United Nations.
This record of longevity has been sustained. Experts from the Ministry of Health are drawn to the spot, seeking the secret of long life, says Chen Jinchao, the director of Guangxi Bama Longevity Research Institute.
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