SHENZHEN has more than 30 citizens who are at least 100 years of age.

　　The nutrition allowance for the centenarians has been increased from 200 yuan (US$24) per month since 1996 to 300 yuan starting this year, sources from local civil administration said recently.

　　As the traditional Chinese Double Ninth Festival fell yesterday, reporters from local newspapers visited some centenarians at weekend.

　　Ni Bingkui, a man who just celebrated his 100th birthday at a local rest home, is in good health except for some hearing problems, a local newspaper reported.

　　Ni has four sons and one daughter and 11 grandchildren. His youngest son is 63 years old.

　　“My father retired at 60. To date, he has received a pension of 500 yuan per month for 40 years,” a son said.

　　According to his son, Ni likes to eat fish head and has a habit of drinking a shot of distilled spirit every afternoon and evening but never gets drunk. Ni attributes his longevity to his measured lifestyle and easygoing personality.

　　Hu Dongjiao, a Guangdong-born centenarian woman, came to Shenzhen in 1983. She has two daughters and one son. A daughter who lives with Hu said her mother had refrained from eating spicy foods and ate little meat. Vegetable and fruit were her favorite foods. Hu enjoys singing, reading newspapers and books. Like other centenarians, she is open-minded and optimistic.

　　(Peng Zhaoxia)