
President visits centenarians ahead of Double Ninth Festival
The Double Ninth Festival, which occurs on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar, falls on Oct. 29 this year. In Taiwan, this is an opportunity to celebrate the elderly. Ahead of the festival, President Lai Ching-te and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen visited a 100-year-old man in Taichung, who shared that practicing tai chi is the secret to his longevity. Meanwhile in Miaoli, the county’s only centenarian couple was presented with certificates commemorating their long lives.
President Lai Ching-te recently went to Taichung to visit a 100-year-old man, Chen Huo-sen. Chen shared with the president the secret to his longevity.
Can we do some tai chi today?
Hahaha
Tai chi is like this.
I’ll learn a little.
Without hesitation, Chen shows the president skills he has garnered over a lifetime.
One hand goes up and the other hand goes down,
like this.
Tai chi is just like this.
Chen was once a banana farmer, but later took on a second career teaching tai chi for over 30 years, accumulating over 10,000 students. He even represented Taiwan in international tai chi competitions. Now over 100 years old, Chen said he stays healthy by exercising in the park and eating to 80% fullness at meals. Ahead of the Double Ninth Festival, which celebrates society’s elders, the president visited two centenarians in Taichung and presented them with special golden charms issued by the Presidential Office and Ministry of Health and Welfare.
In Miaoli, the county’s only centenarian couple celebrated with family and friends.
Miaoli County Commissioner Chung Tung-chin presented the couple with golden certificates issued by the Presidential Office. For Chung, this was especially meaningful, as the old woman bears the same name as his late mother.
Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli County Commissioner
This woman is called Chung Lin Yu-ying, exactly the same four characters as my mother, so of course I feel a particular closeness. Even at this age, their hearing is good and reactions are sharp.
The couple has four daughters and three sons, who said their parents were farmers and embody the traditional Hakka traits of resilience and diligence. They do almost everything themselves and stay active, which may be the secret to their longevity.
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2025-10-17