Lyuliang spirit lives through soldier's old stories

Some of the other reporters and I wanted to buy a bunch of flowers before interviewing Liu Bingtao, a 90-year-old army veteran of the 120th division of the Eighth Route Army, as part of my news report in Xingxian county in Lyuliang city in North China's Shanxi province.

However, our plan failed since the flower shop wasn't open when we got there. So, empty-handed, we went directly to Liu's house where his wife - a very amiable 85-year-old woman - received us at the door.

Liu soon came out of his bedroom to meet us. I found it difficult to believe he is 90 years old since he looked in good shape. I would have guessed he was closer to his 70s if I hadn't been told his real age.