Copyright mirror
A man who has reached the extraordinary age of 111 has revealed the secrets to his long life - wine and sweets. Zhan Changcheng - who has nine children, three sons and six daughters aged between 59 and 82 - still remains active, enjoying walks and card games with friends. He hails from Wanyao Village located south of Shanghai, China, and was born on 17 March 1914. Zhan has lived through World War I, the Warlord Era, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and 76 years of communist rule. All four generations of Zhan's family live under the same roof, and his 72-year-old second son, Zhan Yingtong, and his 69-year-old youngest son, Zhan Yingqin, take turns looking after him with their partners. Yingtong said his father's personal care borders on "obsessive" given how particular he is about cleanliness and his appearance "He still brushes his teeth three times a day," added Yingtong. And he still wakes up at 5am before getting ready and waiting for his family to prepare breakfast. Afterwards, he takes a stroll through the garden, enjoying the sun on his face. His family said that he's very fussy about food and has to have everything sweetened - even his white rice. His daughter-in-law Cai Alu said: "This morning he got angry because his cereal wasn't sweet enough." She added that the family consumes three or four kilogrammes of sugar a month. Despite his sweet tooth, Zhan's blood sugar indicators and regular check-ups show he still appears very healthy. Yingtong said his father dedicated over 50 years of his life to bamboo weaving. He became a renowned weaver in the area and trained up many apprentices, as reported by What's The Jam. He still meets up with three old friends in Pingyang County who, despite their 30-year age difference, share the same passion for weaving. Wine is also important to the centenarian and he raises a glass most days. Zhan did use to be a heavy smoker, but quit a few years ago following pressure from his family. And even though he no longer smokes, he still carries a packet with him in his pocket that he offers to everyone he meets. Yingtong said: "Throughout his life, he maintained a simple, low-maintenance lifestyle.He has never needed luxury, he is content with a bowl of rice and a jug of water." There are currently 22 people over 90 years old in Wanyao Village, two of whom are more than 100 years old. According to reports, Zhan is the second oldest person in China after Zhou Renqing, who will turn 112 on 7 November.
