TAIYUAN, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- When the days are clear, 92-year-old Li Youlan likes to sit in her courtyard and comb her hair.
It's the typical picture of a senior citizen's life in the Chinese countryside. The thing is, Li's hair is not only still completely black, it is also four meters long.
Li is a resident of Boshui Village of Jingle County, in north China's Shanxi Province. She always believes that human hair is "a gift from one's parents," so she never gets it cut.
Over the years, her hair has remained purely black without any dye. The only gray hairs are those on her temples.
Li currently lives with her son Li Jiming, and daughter-in-law. She likes to coil up her long hair with elastics and place it over her head, "just like wearing a hat," she said.
"My hair is way too long to be washed, but I don't feel uncomfortable at all," she said.
Li will celebrate her 93rd birthday at the end of this month, making her the longest living person in the village.
"My mother is in very good health, and can eat a bowl of rice for each meal every day," said Li's 74-year-old son, adding that his mother has clear vision and sharp hearing, and even remembers her past experiences with clarity.
"She often tells her past stories to people, and she does not need help when walking," he said.
The old lady has become a legend in the local area and enjoys high prestige. Locals often pay visits to her just in case she needs any help, while curiously asking for any secrets behind her great health.
"I spent my life as a farmer, and I eat potatoes and millet," she said. "The most important thing is to keep a good state of mind, get up and go to sleep early."
The number of people aged 60 or above in China reached 241 million at the end of 2017, accounting for 17.3 percent of the country's total population, according to the Office of the National Working Commission on Aging. This number is expected to peak at 487 million around 2050, making up 34.9 percent of the total population.
