File photo of Zhu Tuhua.

People want to live long and healthy lives, so it’s no wonder that the first question many people ask when they encounter centenarians is: what is the secret to longevity?

112-year-old Zhu Tuhua, who died yesterday in the city of Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province, is a perfect example of a long life lived well. Zhu, who was born in 1905, witnessed the changes of the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China and the birth of the People's Republic of China. Her family has 74 members, with five generations living under one roof.

As far as any “secrets” to longevity, Zhu always led a simple life, with no special dietary habits. Zhu liked eating meat when she was young, and vegetables and coarse grains became her favorite as she grew older. She had the habit of swallowing two spoonfuls of honey every morning for the past 20 years.

Zhu's husband died young, so Zhu became her family’s sole breadwinner, working hard to support her family. Despite her bound feet, she often led cows up the hills to let them graze on weeds there.

Although Zhu lived a difficult life at times, she was a warm-hearted and generous person. Whenever she had guests in her home, she enjoyed chatting with them and often gave out red ropes, a token of longevity. 

Zhu Tuhua and her son take a stroll. 

A family photo of Zhu Tuhua.