Portraits of elderly women capture rare beauty

A series of 25 graceful photos of women over 90 years of age on International Women's Day has drawn wide attention online.

The photos show the lovely grey-haired seniors dressed in traditional Chinese hanfu and wearing light makeup.

The photographer, 42-year-old Chongqing resident He Yushuang, said she made the portraits at the First Social Welfare Home in the municipality.

"I think they are beautiful," He said. "A 106-year-old hugged me after the shot, and it warmed my heart."

She said she began to undertake public welfare projects in 2007, chronicling such things as the care of child burn victims, providing support for breastfeeding mothers and participating in poverty alleviation activities in remote rural areas.

"This year I wanted to draw public attention to the gray-haired population and celebrate the senior women in our lives," she said.

The welfare home was established in 1942. Formerly known as the Chongqing Experimental Relief Institute, it was founded by three Soong sisters — Ai Ling, Ching Ling and Mei Ling — who became influential women in the country. Soong Ching Ling is revered as the mother of modern China.

In 2009, the institute was designated a national-level demonstration nursing home, mainly sheltering the poor elderly or people with disabilities or dementia. It can accommodate some 1,300 residents.