A woman in China has reportedly celebrated her 124th birthday, making her one of the oldest people in the country, according to local records.

Qiu Chaishi, born in 1901, marked the occasion on January 1st in Nanchong City, surrounded by five generations of family. Despite her age, she remains sharp and witty, though her eyesight has declined since she turned 100. She currently lives with her 60-year-old granddaughter, Taohua.

Chaishi recalls growing up during the Qing Dynasty, the final imperial era of China, which ended in 1911. In her younger years, she was known for her keen accounting skills and physical strength, often working the plow and stacking stones. Even now, she can still walk up and down stairs, light fires, feed geese, and cook.

Her family attributes her longevity to a disciplined lifestyle—eating three meals a day, taking a walk after each one, and going to bed at 8 p.m. Her favorite meal is pumpkin porridge topped with a spoonful of lard, though she has reduced her lard intake on her doctor’s advice.

Chaishi has endured many hardships. By age 40, she had four children, but her husband’s sudden passing left her to raise them alone. At 70, she lost her son to illness, and her daughter remarried, leaving Chaishi to raise her granddaughter. Later, after her granddaughter’s husband passed away, the two decided to live together in their rural home.

“My siblings, husband, and son passed away long ago. The King of Hell must have forgotten about me!” Chaishi joked.

Her family says she has always faced misfortune with resilience. “After every loss, she stays quiet for a while, then bounces back with laughter and positivity,” Taohua said.

Chaishi’s story, featured on a Chinese news site owned by Tencent, has inspired many. Readers marveled at her incredible journey, with one commenter noting, “She has witnessed China’s history unfold over a century. What a legendary life!”

China’s average life expectancy recently surpassed 78 years, and Nanchong, located in the subtropical south, has the highest number of centenarians in the country, according to national statistics.