A few years ago, Hong Kong's life expectancy was the highest in the world!
On average, a dim-sum-dining local was destined to rack up 83.42 years!
Not a bad effort, given worldwide, the average life expectancy at birth is currently 70.01 years.
Just for the record, women on average live longer than men in most countries, besides Tonga.
In 2012, Hong Kong women surpassed Japanese women in life expectancy rates for the first time in 26 years. The grand figure - 86.7 years!
But what's so special about Hong Kong (particularly given regular reports lamenting air pollution as the leading cause of cancer)?
Aside from those obvious reasons the government likes to tout, such as a low birth rate and better medical treatment, experts say there are other things that contribute to Hong Kong’s high life expectancy.
The saying goes, "If a man in China dies before 90, other people treat the death as early and tragic."
#1 Diet
One of the things that's quite obvious in Hong Kong is the small fact there are very few 'big' people.
To see someone who is overweight is a rarity, in fact, it's such an anomaly, you can't help but make comparisons with the western world when you do (let's face it, these days to be obese, for a lot of people, is becoming the norm).
A report on obesity which put the US at the top and Australia 4th, has ranked Hong Kong so far down, it's not even listed.
So, what are they eating?
Nearly all of the protein Chinese consume is from plant sources, while 70% of what Americans eat comes from meat products. The simple facts are - heart disease and cancer cases in the US vastly outnumber those in Hong Kong.
Salt and sugar is rarely used in authentic Cantonese cooking and carbs like bread and potatoes are limited.
If you're visiting from the West, you may even notice the local's 'sweet tooth' is diluted. Sure they are partial to a cake or dessert as much as the next person, but as a non-recovering chocoholic, I've gotta say, sweets 'round here lack a serious sugar hit
But it looks like they're having the last laugh - their unsweetened palates working in their flavour favour.
#2 Yin & Yang
Black and White, Positive and Negative, Masculine and Feminine, the Chinese firmly believe ALL of life involves balancing these opposing forces.
When it comes to the body, Yin favours feminine, damp, mild and cool elements while Yang is bright, masculine, dry and strong.
It's thought an imbalance of the two (natural "heat" and "cold" in the body) can cause disease or make you more conducive towards sickness.
So if you're getting a cold, when most of us in the Western world reach for a packet of Codral, here it's all about miso soup with hot ginger... (at the very least you'll be offered a glass of warm water).
Chinese also believe certain soup has special healing powers.
For example the city's famous Bird's Nest Soup (which isn't exactly a bird's nest) is said to improve libido and digestion, alleviates asthma and increase focus, not to mention its overall benefit to the immune system and it gives you glowing skin (who needs beauty potions).
Other foods like Abalone shell fish are not only a status symbol but said to be an adjunct therapy for cancer and a brightener and healer for the eyes; they increase appetite and are a health food for the liver and kidneys.
Eczema sufferers are be warned to stay right away from garlic; Chinese black are mushrooms eaten to help lower blood pressure and it goes on....
There's even a saying from Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu.
”The best physicians always treat disease when it is not [yet] a disease And so [their patients] are not ill.
So it seems the Chinese diet and philosophy isn't doing any harm in the health books…..but Hong Kong is without doubt a frenzied and fast-paced city that never sleeps.
How do you stay calm and avoid stress amongst the madness of a city with multiple personalities?
#3 Keep Moving & Socialise
A quick look out of my window before 7am and it's not uncommon to see people well into their seventies and eighties moving in synchronised slow motion…
To be honest, to my untrained eye, the ancient tradition of Tai Chi executed at snail's pace has never looked all that 'physical,' but alas, these ancient and fluid movements are said to help balance the body’s internal yin and yang, doing as much for the mind and soul as it does for the body, boosting cardiovascular strength.
With no statutory retirement age, it's also uncommon for locals to retire before the age of 70 or 80. This is often because without a pension they're forced to earn a living, but perhaps it's also a case of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!'
Hong Kong and much of Asia has a culture that doesn't mind women carrying the load, physically and literally. It's not unusual to see older women pushing extremely heavy loads through the city streets or hard at work on construction sites. As tough as it looks, these women are tough as nails!
Hong Kong's senior citizens also love to socialise, even if it's just playing the centuries old tile game, Mahjong, down a side alleyway, or out the back of many restaurants or shops perched on plastic stools.
Ageing experts say the mentally stimulating tile game can help delay dementia by stimulating parts of the brain that controls memory and cognitive abilities.
You can't accuse the Chinese of leading a sedentary or isolated lifestyle. That said, they don’t mind a little nap in public either….perhaps it’s the perfect way to replenish their energy.
#4 Family Ties
Family ties are rich here in the Kong and it’s believed they also play into the longevity equation. Family comes first and foremost (whether you like it or not) and it's not uncommon for up to three or four generations to live under the one roof.
Family care and support is crucial with nursing home/retirement villages not an option for the elderly who (in general) are held at the top of the hierarchal tree.
It goes without saying, when the time comes you will be the one to take care of your elderly parents, no matter what the cost.
While this could be seen as a burden to many in the West, studies say it's a benefit and have pointed to the fact that people who live alone, die sooner.
#5 Convenience
There's also talk that such high density living has its plus side. Experts say the skyscraper island offers a balance of the fast paced with the super convenient.
Transport is slick, easy and cheap; shopping malls are underneath most high rises (which also takes care of the social side of life) and the shorter travelling time across the city, which geographically has a small land mass of just over 1100 square km, allows Hong Kong people to carry out their daily activities with ease, thereby keeping them relatively healthy and quite possibly, more cheerful!
There is also a great maze of walk ways over highways to connect from place to place. In fact, it's not uncommon for most people to walk one or two kilometres a day (at least) and the walking pace is oh so much faster. This I can vouch for, having become an avid street walker myself (in the best sense of the term).
Like they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss!
#6 Staying out of the sun
Unlike a lot of western countries, where there is a definite love-hate relationship with the sun, Chinese people aren't big fans of the sun’s harsh rays at all. They much prefer the paler look over the beach-bronzed goddess and (sensibly) use specially made sun umbrellas to shade themselves, even when just walking down the street.
You'll often find locals scurrying to the pool or beach once the sun goes down, no sun-worshippers here! (Which also means, NO wrinkles or skin cancer!)
Somebody bring me some birds nest soup and an umbrella!
#7 Feng Shui
Just how much does Feng Shui have to answer for in the longevity books?
According to 'experts' on the matter - having good Feng Shui is all about trying to create harmony and balance in your home or office. It is the practice of arranging your environment so that energy or “chi” flows gently and smoothly through your environment. If it's not balanced just right, you could very well experience problems with your health, relationships, money or children.
Beds, mirrors, even doors in the wrong place can cause all sense of havoc. Not even my hotelier husband can escape good Feng Shui in his work environment, with experts regularly visiting to "sort" out hotel space, not to mention his office! (A vase with water strategically added here, a blind pulled down here to stop the luck escaping out the glass window - in the world of Feng Shui, you can't afford to get it wrong.)
The humble tortoise is considered a symbol of longevity, thus its presence in any shape or form is coveted by many people who wish to live long, healthy lives. If it's a live tortoise, even better, it will ensure the family lives to a ripe old age!
So in this global junction where East meets West, perhaps it's time to take a (herbal) leaf out of the Chinese book of life!
Tai Chi, a tortoise, and a cup of tea....anyone? Oh, and and a nap thanks!
*Just for the record, according to the latest release of CIA's World Factbook, the world's longest living people as of 2015 are currently found in Monaco, with an average age of 89.5 years
For more fascinating stories on life in the far East, visit Nicole at her critically acclaimed blog Mint Mocha Musings.