Tongzhou bolsters economic development through longevity culture

Leguan village in Tongzhou district, Nantong is now home to nine seniors who are over 100 years old, 66 seniors aged between 90 and 99 years old, and 268 between 80 and 89 years old. As a result, the ideas of filial piety and respect for the elderly have gained popular support in the village.

Li Shu, born in 1914, is the oldest person in the village. She has been being looked after by her two daughters-in-law since she was 90 years old.

"It's her positive attitude that has kept my mother-in-law alive for so long," said a daughter-in-law of Li.

The name of the village – Leguan, which means optimism in Chinese – embodies a common characteristic of the seniors. They are always optimistic about their lives, no matter how many challenges they face.

The village is endeavoring to boost economic development relying on longevity culture. It has long been focused on traditional agriculture, and an integrated agricultural product center is being developed.

The high-quality rice in the village covers an area of 4,619 mu (308 hectares), accounting for 82 percent of the total farmland area. Various kinds of fruits and vegetables are cultivated in local orchards and greenhouses, and more than 20,000 hens are raised in the over 1,000-mu ecological forest.

Data showed that the village received 1.56 million yuan ($220,842) in off-budget revenue, and the rural per capita net annual income was up to 22,000 yuan in 2019.