Hong Kong grandma, 99, with a zest for life and her tips for health and happiness: play mahjong, exercise, eat vegetables and enjoy the love of family and friends
- Brain games, little or no meat, a low-calorie diet, and a glass of good red wine now and then – that’s the recipe of ‘Mama’ Cheng Li for a long and happy life
- Doctors and researchers agree on the role of community in people living longer and healthier lives, but say it is often overlooked in fast-paced Hong Kong
On her 99th birthday in September, Cheng Li Shuk Kam had just one wish: to celebrate her special day with her immediate family. After all, love and loyalty are key to a long and fulfilling life, says the near-centenarian, who has three sons, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Cheng – or ‘Mama’ as she is fondly known by her loved ones – was born in Chiu Chow in Guangdong province, southern China. In 1948, she moved to Hong Kong, a city that boasts the longest life expectancy in the world, according to researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. On average, men in Hong Kong live for 81.3 years and women for 87.3 years. Like many of the women in her family, Cheng has surpassed the average.
Family keeps her going, Mama says. Her granddaughter, Therese Cheng Tee, explains.
“My grandma would say her greatest achievement is her family, and her legacy is her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always makes the effort to stay connected, be it through phone conversations with family here and overseas, or by welcoming the many visitors in her home who stop by for tea,” says Tee, a mother of two.
“For festivals like Dragon Boat Festival or Chinese New Year, she’ll wake up at 4am over those couple of days to prepare traditional Chiu Chow food from scratch for family and friends. It’s incredible how much stamina she has. Mama has taught me the importance of keeping family close and enjoying our time together.”
