Donggang town becomes Wuxi's longevity village

HOdo Group organizes a humanitarian activity honoring centenarians in Donggang town, Wuxi on April 17. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A humanitarian activity honoring centenarians was held in Donggang town, Wuxi on April 17.

Sponsored by the Party committee of HOdo Group and the Yaoting Charity Foundation, the activity focused on the health and overall living conditions of the town's centenarians, and aimed to promote philanthropic values.

During the activity, Zhou Yaoting, honorary chairman of the Yaoting Charity Foundation, and Zhou Haijiang, president of HOdo Group, provided each of the ten new centenarians in Donggang town with a charitable fund of 100,000 yuan (about $16,000).

The activity presents each of the ten new centenarians in Donggang town with a charitable fund of 100,000 yuan (about $16,000). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past four years, the Yaoting Charity Foundation has consistently organized activities that offer care and support for the elderly. Meanwhile, HOdo Group has been advocating a new way for urban citizens to experience nature – appreciating and plating yew. These efforts received high praise from officials who participated in the activity.

Donggang town was recognized as the first yew longevity village in the world by the International Natural Medicine Society in 2017.

In recent years, the total number of centenarians in the town has increased sharply, currently sitting at 20 people, 10 of which were added in 2018. The town also has more than 600 people aged between 90 and 99, a number which far exceeds the standard for a "longevity village" set by China and the UN.