Longevity Village

Longevity Village

With an average life expectancy of 83.36 years, villagers here rarely suffer from illness or cancer, enjoy generational longevity, and consistently surpass the national average in lifespan. These statistics document a small village deep in the mountains known as

“Longevity Village.” This is a tiny settlement of just 18 households and 76 residents—Shichangwa Tun in Shanzui Village, Xinzhen Town, Naiman Banner (formerly Shanzui Village, Baiyinchang Township)—a hidden paradise that has created the myth of the “Longevity Village.”

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Shichangwa Tun is nestled in a basin. Backed by Pingdingshan Mountain, home to the equally renowned

“national-level” brand “Chinese Maifan Stone,” the village lies at the foot of a mine. Adorned with lush pine trees, it resembles a piece of jade tucked away in the embrace of the hills. The entire village looks like a fairyland, tranquil and surrounded by fresh air. In the morning when the sun shines through, mist lingers in the air, and the occasional crow of a rooster or bark of a dog makes you feel as if you’re in an earthly paradise. Ancient elm trees grow naturally in clusters on the village’s hillsides. Their cracked, deeply wrinkled bark and exposed roots worn smooth by time bear witness to the village’s long history. Though it’s a small settlement of just over ten households, the homes are scattered and sparse, stretching nearly two kilometers from north to south. A winding stream runs through the center of the village, flowing past every household. People live right along the banks, though these days the stream carries little water and has become more of a riverbank path connecting the homes. According to local residents, villagers here rarely fall ill or develop cancer, enjoy long lives, and consistently surpass the national average lifespan, often living into their 80s. This is Shichangwa Tun, the village known as “Longevity Village.” Twenty years ago, someone came specifically to investigate the village and wrote a report titled “The Secret of Longevity Village,” which was published in Shanghai Science and Technology Magazine. Two decades later, what changes have taken place in this long-lived village? We’ve returned once again.

In 1898, a man named Zhang Lianke took a liking to the environment here,

and even more so to the rocky mountains…

Tracing the history of the small village, it’s surprisingly simple and almost unremarkable. No one has ever conducted detailed research, but it’s known that as early as 1898, a man from Shandong named Zhang Lianke was drawn to the environment here and especially to the rocky mountains—the stone was of good quality, easy to quarry and process, and well-suited for making farming tools. Thus, out of necessity for survival, he settled here with his son, who knew stonemasonry. From then on, the Zhang family formed an inseparable bond with the rocky mountains and the stones here. They spent their years quarrying stones in the hills, crafting millstones, stone rollers, and other stoneware, which they would then transport out of the mountains to sell, making a living for their family. And so, generation after generation of the Zhang Lianke family lived in this village. At one time, most of the stoneware used in surrounding towns came from here—from the Zhang family.

When it comes to longevity in Shichangwa Tun, the Zhang Lianke family, the earliest residents here, have the most authority to speak and testify. Seven generations of the Zhang family have lived here over the years. More than ten members of the family have passed away, and aside from those who died unnaturally, they generally lived long lives. At its peak, one household had five generations living together. They didn’t have any special fitness routines, mysterious health secrets, longevity tips, or genetic advantages. Zhang Lianke was originally from Shandong, and according to his descendants, relatives back in his hometown only lived to be around 60 or 70, with some passing away in their 40s. Like everyone else, they worked from sunrise to sunset, living the same lifestyle as their neighbors. Zhang Lianke’s descendant, 68-year-old Zhang Yuzhi, still visits her 80-year-old, hale and hearty aunt-in-law, Gao Suzhen, every Spring Festival to kowtow and wish her a happy new year. According to Zhang Yuzhi: “No one in the village makes a big deal about longevity—it’s seen as perfectly normal. Elderly people in their seventies or eighties still keep watch over the house, with sharp hearing, clear vision, good memory, and articulate speech—that’s completely normal.”

When we visited Gao Suzhen, Zhang Yuzhi’s aunt-in-law, we saw that despite being over 80 years old, the elderly woman’s skin remains delicate, her eyes bright, and her spirit vigorous. Pointing out the window, she said: “Yesterday, I was watching the house when three flocks of sheep wandered into my yard. I herded them all up the mountain.” She spoke with ease. Her daughter-in-law, Zuo Fengzhi, added: “My mother-in-law may be 80, but she’s never been sick. When we go work in the hills, she stays home cooking, watching the house, and tending the garden.”

Zhang Yuzhi’s fourth son, Zhang Xuelong, showed us his family tree, where we could see the exact lifespans of the first four generations of his family, with an average age of over 83.

It’s understood that apart from the Zhang Lianke family, the other 11 families who moved to Shichangwa Tun primarily for maifan stone mining and processing have also enjoyed healthy, trouble-free lives over the past 20-plus years.

Longevity, freedom from disease, and magical water—the “three wonders” of “Longevity Village”

Since the 1980s, in an effort to uncover the secrets behind the longevity of Shichangwa Tun, institutions such as the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Shenyang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources conducted tests on the area’s water, soil, and ores, discovering large quantities of high-quality medicinal ore—maifan stone. News of the discovery of maifan stone deposits in the village spread quickly by word of mouth, sparking curiosity and making the secluded mountain village even more mysterious. Soon, visitors began flocking in, so many that villagers lost track of how many groups they’d hosted. The once quiet little village became lively, drawing attention from all over. Researchers came from countries and regions including Japan and Hong Kong—some took water samples for testing, others collected maifan stone specimens, and some came for development discussions. And so, the village was built because of the stones, gained fame because of its long-lived residents, and became renowned because of maifan stone.

The general robustness and longevity of its people is the first wonder of “Longevity Village.” The healthy lives of the villagers here have been celebrated far and wide. Perhaps you’ve only heard tales of the strength and longevity of the people here, but never visited Shichangwa Tun, spoken face-to-face with the villagers, or seen their expressions. Hearing is not as good as seeing. When you get close to the villagers, you’ll find their skin is delicate, their faces glowing with health, and they all look much younger than their actual age. The elderly, in particular, are spirited and physically strong, most with keen hearing and sharp vision, and they can still help out with physical chores around the house. The villagers here are not only strong but also long-lived. According to elders’ recollections, aside from those who died unnaturally, most passed away without illness. The oldest villager reached 92 years of age, the youngest 67, with an average lifespan of 83.36 years—higher than the surrounding population. Statistics show that during China’s 10th Five-Year Plan period, the national average life expectancy was 71.8 years.

Having no village doctor, no diseases, and no epidemics is the second wonder of “Longevity Village.” This village, over a century old, is a legendary story in itself. The reason for this is that since its founding, the village has never had a clinic or a village doctor. Even if there had been a doctor, there would have been no market for medical services—because the villagers are robust and long-lived, having never suffered from major illnesses like gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, nor from any difficult or complicated conditions. Even common ailments like headaches or colds rarely required medicine. In this village, not only do humans rarely get sick, but livestock and poultry have also never been affected by epidemics. Even when neighboring villages experienced outbreaks of diseases like foot-and-mouth or avian flu, the animals here remained unharmed—as if all plagues dared not invade this “heavenly blessed land.”

So, where does this miraculous longevity come from? Some in the village say: “We live on blessed land with good water and soil!” And indeed, it’s true. After repeated investigations and research by numerous experts and scholars, the magic of Shichangwa lies in the magical stone—Chinese Maifan Stone. The great Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica: “Maifan Stone resembles a handful of cooked millet or rice grains, yellowish-white in color, sweet and warm in nature, non-toxic, and effective against all types of abscesses and back sores.” As early as 1983, Chinese geological researchers conducted studies on maifan stone. After more than a year of hard work, they selected four ore sample sites. After evaluation by domestic and international experts, it was confirmed that the maifan stone produced in Pingdingshan, Naiman Banner, Inner Mongolia, was of the highest quality, rich in essential trace elements needed by the human body. It can be used for water purification, sewage treatment, and has a strong adsorption effect on bacteria. Drinking maifan stone water can regulate the body’s metabolism, aid digestion, promote urination, protect the liver, and prevent aging—all greatly beneficial to humans. Designated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as the national-level “Chinese Maifan Stone,” with the registered trademark “Lingyu Brand,” Chinese Maifan Stone has thus become China’s health-giving sacred stone.

With this, the mystery is solved: despite lacking good living conditions or medical facilities, and despite not knowing much about health preservation, the people living in Shichangwa are constantly cared for by maifan stone, which helps maintain their health and prolong their lives. Tracing it back, it is maifan stone that provides the secret to longevity and the magical charm of Shichangwa Village; it is Chinese Maifan Stone that gives this village its legendary longevity and mystique.

Xinzhen: In 1954, Xinzhen was the Sixth District of Naiman Banner. In 1956, the district was abolished and reorganized as Majiawazi Township. In 1958, it was renamed Xinzhen (production brigade). In 1983, it became Xinzhen Township, and in 2000, the township was upgraded to Xinzhen Town. In December of the same year, the former Chaogutai Sumu and Xinzhen Town were merged, and the new name Xinzhen was adopted. Xinzhen is located in the southeastern part of Naiman Banner, on the edge of the Horqin Sandy Land. To the south, it borders Fuxin City; to the east, it connects with Kulun Banner; and to the north, it links with Horqin District. The town administers 33 administrative gachas and 87 neighborhood groups. The town government is located in Xinzhen Village, situated on the Dakou Line, approximately… More details about Xinzhen++