Lishui, a land of scenic mountains and rivers, idyllic countryside, a Sanctuary for Well-being, and a Town of Longevity.

As the only prefecture-level city in the country that holds the title of “China’s Longevity Town”, Lishui boasts picturesque landscapes, idyllic countryside scenes, a haven for well-being, and a sanctuary for long life. During the period of “the 13th Five-Year Plan”, the average life expectancy in the city increased from 79.37 years to 81.04 years, surpassing not only the national average but also that of Western countries like Germany and Greece. By the end of 2022, Lishui was home to 411 centenarians.

Over the past decade, Lishui has continually expanded and enhanced the influence of the “Longevity Town” brand, driven local industries, and sharpened its competitive edge. This has added luster to the development of Lishui as a health and wellness destination, aspiring to become a globally renowned city for happiness and livability, a well-known hub for health and longevity in the Yangtze River Delta, and China’s most beautiful Longevity Town. These efforts empower the development of the health industry, enhance environmental quality, and boost the effectiveness of ecological economic development.

Polishing the “Golden Brand”

Enhancing the Reputation of the Longevity Town

Health and longevity have always been a timeless pursuit and desire shared by humanity throughout history.

“Lishui is a beautiful, livable, and longevity-promoting place. According to the criteria for a Longevity Town in China, Lishui fully meets the requirements and rightfully holds the title of ‘China’s Longevity Town’,” stated Zhao Baohua, the executive vice chairman of the China Gerontology and Geriatrics Society, on May 19, 2013.

On that morning, the China Gerontology and Geriatrics Society, together with the Lishui Municipal Party Committee and the city government, held the “China’s Longevity Town - Lishui’ award ceremony and press conference in Beijing. During the event, Lishui was officially granted the title of “China’s Longevity Town”, becoming the first city among more than 280 prefecture-level cities in the country to receive this prestigious honor.

“China’s Longevity Town” is organized and evaluated by the China Gerontology and Geriatrics Society. It follows a scientific indicator system, strict recognition criteria, standardized recognition methods, and procedures. In addition to core criteria such as the percentage of centenarians, the proportion of elderly people aged 80 and above, and the average life expectancy per capita in the elderly population, the assessment of a Longevity Town also considers important reference indicators related to economics, society, culture, nature, and the environment. It is a comprehensive, systematic, and standardized scientific indicator that possesses unique credibility and authority.

Obtaining this honor carries extraordinary significance and has a significant impact. “China’s Longevity Town” not only embodies a convincing manifestation of an excellent ecological environment but also represents a comprehensive and high-quality social emblem that signifies green production and green living. Especially in the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as China transitions from high-speed economic growth to high-quality development, the pursuit of a high-quality life has become the mainstream of today's society. Therefore, the brand holds a distinctive influence and competitiveness.

Since being recognized as “China’s Longevity Town” in 2013, Lishui has established a clear regional identity as “Picturesque Mountains and Waters, a Sanctuary for Well-being, and a Town of Longevity”, which has been integrated into its economic and social development strategies. In 2017, during the fourth Party Congress of Lishui City, the regional identity was further enhanced to “Picturesque Mountains and Waters, Idyllic Countryside, a Sanctuary for Well-being, and a Town of Longevity”. All major governmental, business, and social activities, as well as prominent media platforms, collaborated in a coordinated effort to promote this regional brand. Notably, a promotional video about “Picturesque Mountains and Waters, Idyllic Countryside, a Sanctuary for Well-being, and a Town of Longevity” was broadcasted on China Central Television (CCTV) for multiple years during prime time, expanding the influence of this regional brand nationwide and deeply ingraining the image of Lishui as a Longevity Town in people’s minds.

In the continued effort to strengthen top-level planning, Lishui has specifically formulated the Brand Promotion and Utilization Plan for “China’s Longevity Town” and “China’s Climate Health and Wellness Town” (2016-2020). This plan outlines strategies for enhancing the brand impact of Longevity Town and Climate Health and Wellness Town, facilitating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries such as agriculture, forestry, and water resources, vigorously promoting the development of eco-health and wellness tourism, and nurturing industries related to health, elderly care, culture, and leisure. It systematically paves the way for the better and faster development of Lishui’s economy and society, aiming to establish a wide-ranging brand influence and core competitive strength in the target core markets.

Simultaneously, Lishui took the lead nationally in establishing a standard system for the construction of Longevity Towns. It actively promoted the development of six major tasks involving 77 standards: “Picturesque Mountains and Waters”, high-quality living environment, health promotion, health and wellness industry, standards for respecting the elderly and filial piety, as well as innovative policy mechanisms. By creating a set of internationally benchmarked, nationally leading, easily implementable, and highly promotable standards for Longevity Town construction, Lishui enhanced the environment, lifestyle, society, culture, and industries associated with Longevity Towns, continuously opening up pathways for transforming the concept of “Green Mountains and Clean Waters” into sustainable economic development.

In an effort to explore and promote Longevity Culture and create a visible “Longevity Town”, Lishui introduced the evaluation of the “Top Ten Longevity and Wellness Villages” and the “Top Ten Longevity Villages” across the city. In densely populated areas, they erected walls honoring centenarians, installed signs recognizing China’s Longevity Town, organized competitions to identify the most beautiful centenarians, published illustrated books featuring centenarians, launched columns about centenarians in various media, told stories of centenarians, and highlighted exemplary acts of respecting and loving the elderly. These initiatives further promoted Longevity Culture.

Striving to Lead

Enhancing the Contribution to Green Development

To establish the Longevity Town brand, resource integration and collaborative efforts are essential.

In April 2016, with the support and guidance of the China Gerontology and Geriatrics Society, Lishui took the lead in establishing the Longevity Town Green Development Regional Cooperation Alliance. This alliance was initiated in collaboration with other Longevity Towns, including Liyang in Jiangsu, Wendeng in Shandong, Chishui in Guizhou, and the Guangxi Gerontology and Geriatrics Society. Presently, Lishui has incorporated 69 Longevity Towns, along with other organizations, 300 enterprises, and over 40 renowned national experts. Regional cooperation and industrial development are showing positive trends.

Over the past seven years, Lishui has actively fulfilled its responsibilities as the Executive Chairman of the Longevity Town Alliance and its secretariat. It has vigorously promoted the efficient operation and development of the alliance, gaining advantages and seizing opportunities in terms of external publicity and resource mobilization, striving to lead the cooperative development of “China’s Longevity Town”, which has set the precedent in the development of green industries in Longevity Towns, facilitating the transformation of environmental, resource, and cultural advantages into industrial, economic, and developmental advantages.

Concerning the promotion of the Longevity brand, on one hand, the alliance has increased its promotional efforts to enhance the regional image. It actively invites media at all levels to participate, pay attention to, and promote various exhibition and promotion events such as the Elderly Expo and Agricultural Expo. This aims to establish a new high point for promoting the excellent mountains, waters, and products of Longevity Towns. On the other hand, the alliance strengthens research into longevity phenomena and the influence of the Longevity Town brand, guiding localities, companies, and institutions to upgrade their development by utilizing the Longevity Town brand, to lead the concept of healthy lifestyles and driving innovation in green industry theories.

Regarding brand recognition enhancement, the alliance has formulated and published ten brand group standards, including the “Certification Norms for China’s Longevity Town Health and Wellness Demonstration Bases”. It expands the registration of “longevity” trademark in the brand trademark, transitioning it from a symbol in the social domain to a product and industry class. Every year, the alliance conducts brand certification activities for Longevity Town specialty service cities, experience bases, and more, effectively transforming the ecological environment, longevity culture, health products, and other resource endowments of Longevity Towns into industrial advantages, competitive advantages, and developmental advantages.

As of now, Lishui has had 7 counties (cities, districts) receive the title of “China’s Longevity Town Characteristic Service Industry Demonstration City”, 4 townships awarded the title of “China’s Longevity Town Township Experience Base”, and 30 products honored with the title of “China’s Longevity Town Health and Wellness Excellent Products”.

In promoting exchange and cooperation, the alliance organizes an annual alliance conference and Longevity Town-themed summit forums. By actively facilitating connections, Lishui has successfully established platforms such as the Lishui Ecological Fine Agricultural Expo and the China’s Longevity Town Health and Wellness Excellent Product Expo, as well as the China International Senior Industry Expo’s “China’s Longevity Town Special Exhibition Zone”. These platforms showcase distinctive products, tourism, health, and elderly care industries, bringing together resources from various Longevity Towns to expand the market.

In May 2021, during the Second General Meeting of the Membership Representatives of the Longevity Town Green Development Regional Cooperation Alliance held in Lishui, and at the “Longevity Town and High-Quality Green Development” summit forum, a “Lishui Initiative for Longevity Towns and High-Quality Green Development” was issued to all Longevity Towns and alliance members. The initiative calls for resolute confidence in expanding the brand’s impact, strengthening collaborative efforts for intensive development, actively transitioning development models through reform and innovation, maintaining the original intentions while focusing on integration, accelerating research and promoting standardization, and enhancing government leadership. It aims to join hands to shape the blueprint for the development of Longevity Towns 2.0.

Leveraging platforms such as the Longevity Town Alliance, Lishui actively promotes the nationwide pilot of the ecological product value realization mechanism, the “Kangyang 600” initiative, and the development of forest-based health and wellness. It considers traditional Chinese medicine health care, health and wellness, elderly care services, sports, and leisure as key sectors for healthy industry development. It promotes the cultivation and growth of leisure and wellness industries such as “food-based health”, “medicine-based health”, “water-based health”, “exercise-based health”, “culture-based health” and “air-based health”. Lishui has introduced regional shared “Shan” (mountain) brand names, such as “Lishui Shangeng”, “Lishui Shanjing”, “Lishui Shanju” and “Lishui Shanquan”, which drive the thriving development of ecological specialty industries. This has effectively facilitated the coordinated development of diverse health and wellness formats.

Furthermore, Lishui capitalizes on its local specialty industry advantages, particularly focusing on the benefits of elderly woodcraft for senior health. It organizes citywide and provincial senior woodcraft competitions, promoting senior woodcraft in senior education, activities, and elderly care and rehabilitation facilities. This enables senior woodcraft to play a positive role in promoting senior health. The Lishui senior woodcraft program made its debut at the 2023 Zhejiang (International) Health and Wellness Industry Expo, securing collaboration intentions with over 100 elderly care institutions.

Strengthening the Foundation

Enhancing the Health Satisfaction in Lishui

Promoting the construction of a Healthy China and actively addressing the aging population, crucial for national development and people’s well-being, represents a significant initiative to achieve high-quality economic development, safeguard national security, and ensure social stability.

Last June, leveraging its distinctive “China’s Longevity Town” brand, outstanding senior-friendly environmental development, leading position in the construction of the health and wellness destination in the Yangtze River Delta, continuous improvement in elderly care service system capacity, and the establishment of a collaborative working mechanism, Lishui stood out among more than 300 cities nationwide and was designated as a key contact city for actively addressing the aging population.

As the foundation of the elderly care sector continues to solidify, in the pursuit of modernizing health and wellness, Lishui has been recognized as a national model city for two consecutive years in the construction of healthy cities. The satisfaction of the masses with Zhejiang’s health construction has consistently ranked first in the province for five years, and Lishui’s performance in the health assessment of Zhejiang province has remained at the forefront for four years in a row.

As the first “Elderly-Friendly City” in the province, Lishui took the lead nationally in issuing the “Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Construction of a Senior-Friendly Living Environment” in the name of the local government. The city is dedicated to creating a senior-friendly living environment characterized by ecological excellence, convenient and well-equipped public facilities, age-appropriate home environments, comprehensive social security and welfare, robust development of senior cultural and sports activities, and a strong atmosphere of respect and care for the elderly.

In recent years, Lishui has launched the “Four Entrances” action, which involves improving accessibility and age-friendliness in homes, communities, scenic areas, and rural areas. This has led to the completion of accessibility renovations on urban roads and city bus stations. Four achievements, including the “Technical Specification for Home Accessibility Facility Renovation”, have been recognized as outstanding achievements in nationwide accessible environment construction, and nine communities have been designated as “National Demonstration Elderly-Friendly Communities”. Additionally, 11 units have been recognized as “National Civilized Units for Respecting the Elderly”, along with 66 units at the provincial level.

In terms of caring and supporting the elderly, Lishui actively nurtures social organizations and volunteer teams dedicated to elderly services. More than 90% of the city’s townships are engaged in “Silver Age Mutual Aid” activities, which have led to the emergence of volunteer service organizations and teams, such as the “Lao Li Helping Team”, committed to serving the elderly. Furthermore, Lishui has implemented a higher standard subsidy system for senior citizens and innovatively provides one-time cash rewards to those reaching the ages of 90 and 100.

Particularly, in the ongoing commitment to ensuring the health of elderly residents, Lishui has accelerated the integration of medical and health services with elderly care. It has strengthened the high-quality supply of medical resources for the elderly, with all secondary and higher-level comprehensive medical institutions in the city having geriatrics departments, and 89% of healthcare institutions achieving recognition as elderly-friendly healthcare institutions. The city has continued to equip public places with automatic external defibrillators (AED) and has provided free vaccination against the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine and other elderly-related public services.

Lishui has also innovatively introduced the “Smart Mobile Hospital”, providing comprehensive coverage to 758 remote administrative villages that lack medical facilities. This initiative promotes the development of pre-hospital medical emergency services at the municipal, county, and township levels, aiming to establish the distinctive “Rescue in Lishui” application scenario to address the challenge of providing medical and health services to elderly residents in remote mountainous areas.

In terms of insurance and financial services, Lishui provides free accident insurance for all elderly individuals aged 80 and above. Starting this year, the “Zhejiang-Lishui Insurance” program includes long-term care coverage to meet the living and medical care needs of elderly people with disabilities. By establishing demonstration points for financial services for the elderly, the city guides banking institutions to integrate traditional services with intelligent services, making financial technology benefits more accessible to the elderly.

To address the challenges of elderly care in mountainous areas, Lishui leverages its unique geographical characteristics and follows the work philosophy of “demand-oriented, with services following the elderly”, promoted the special action of “Zhejiang Lishui Longevity Mountain Area Care”, provided Lishui model for “Zhejiang Health Care” construction, and focused on enhancing the sense of access, happiness, and security of the elderly.

Taking advantage of being selected as the fourth batch of trial points for home and community-based elderly care service reform nationwide, Lishui is advancing the construction of embedded elderly care institutions across the city. These institutions offer comprehensive elderly care services, including professional nursing and home-based services. A total of 1,725 community-based elderly care service centers and 176 township-based elderly care service centers have been established, achieving full coverage of urban and rural communities and township streets. Simultaneously, the city is integrating resources such as mobile compassionate meal trucks and mobile sales-to-wealth vehicles to provide services like purchasing on behalf of the elderly and delivering medical services to elderly residents in mountainous areas.

Anticipated for 2025, Lishui is poised to establish a comprehensive response system that aligns with the aging demographic, resulting in an average life expectancy of 81.8 years. By 2027, Lishui will essentially achieve urban health and wellness modernization, contributing to increased health and longevity among its residents. Health indicators are expected to reach the levels seen in high-income countries, paving the way for Lishui to become a model area for health and wellness within Zhejiang province and striving to become a national demonstration zone for the modernization of health services in mountainous regions.