A 93-year-old woman nicknamed "kungfu granny" has been practicing Chinese kungfu all her life. Thanks to the healthy body she has maintained by doing the sport, the woman has not been to the hospital in several decades, Qianjiang Evening News reported on Monday.

The woman, Zhang Hexian, was born in Dongyuan Village in Zhejiang province. The village is famous for its kungfu practitioners. According to Zhang, her father started to teach her kungfu when she was just 3 years old. Back then she would get up at 3 or 4 a.m. to practice.

Zhang was chosen to be an instructor for her fellow disciples because she was the most outstanding and hardworking student. Though most of her old classmates have passed away by now, Zhang is still instructing new generations of villagers. Zhang believes that traditional Chinese martial arts are beneficial for people's health. She also enjoys helping people who have been bullied to defend themselves.

Though short and slim, the 93-year-old is hale and hearty. After her husband passed away, she continued living independently in her mountain house, and Zhang still cooks for herself. She has no dietary restraints, and possesses a special fondness for seafood. Though she occasionally comes down with small ailments like colds, she always recovers easily.

Now a fifth generation of Zhang’s family is about to be born, and it is her greatest happiness. She encourages her descendants to keep the kungfu tradition alive.