According to the latest statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Hong Kongers have surpassed Japanese to claim the title of the world's longest-living people.

The average life expectancy for women in Hong Kong is 87 years old, and for men, it is 81 years old, both being the highest in the world.

What exactly makes Hong Kongers live so long?

According to expert analysis, there are two key reasons: the healthcare system and health preservation awareness.

1. A Perfect Healthcare System

Hong Kong's healthcare system is one of the best in the world, and its costs are low. Given that the Hong Kong government still retains a traditional colonial mindset, it places particular importance on healthcare spending. The expenditure on healthcare alone accounts for 20% of its recurrent expenditure! Healthcare professionals enjoy generous salaries, are highly skilled, and adhere to good medical ethics. Hospital equipment and medicines are constantly updated, keeping pace with global standards, ensuring Hong Kongers undoubtedly enjoy the best medical experience. In contrast to the astounding expenditure on the healthcare system, medical costs for Hong Kong citizens are extremely low, with substantial subsidies for hospital admissions. In fact, patients' actual out-of-pocket expenses only account for 3% of the total cost. Therefore, it is common knowledge in Hong Kong to see a doctor immediately when ill, a fact that foreigners find hard to believe. Hong Kong has numerous hospitals, and with convenient transportation, patients can always be rushed to the hospital in time for emergency treatment during accidents, which significantly reduces the mortality rate and is a key factor in longevity.

 

2. Health Preservation Awareness

While the healthcare system is crucial, even more important is daily health preservation awareness. Hong Kongers face high work pressure and busy schedules, with less than 5% maintaining regular exercise habits. The core of their longevity primarily stems from a healthy approach to wellness. Experts and scholars have listed the following three unique dietary health preservation habits of Hong Kongers to explain their longevity.

 

1. Love for Bird's Nest

Experts believe that bird's nest is the primary contributor to Hong Kong women achieving the longest lifespan. The popularity of bird's nest in Hong Kong far exceeds that in mainland China and other regions. Hong Kongers are very willing to spend money on bird's nest to consume its rich and balanced nutrients, achieving beauty and health-preserving effects. In Hong Kong, bird's nest appears not only in advertisements but also in historical dramas and various households, deeply ingrained in people's minds as a popular tonic. It is consumed by 98% of pregnant women and regularly by people of all ages. Why does eating bird's nest lead to longevity? Because bird's nest contains a unique nutrient, sialic acid, which helps promote cell regeneration and reconstruction, regulates physiological functions, and controls endocrine glands, achieving beauty, health preservation, and anti-aging effects. Bird's nest, for its beauty and longevity benefits, is highly sought after by Hong Kong celebrities, and Hong Kongers are no exception, with an increasing number of young people also beginning to incorporate it into their diets.

 

2. Love for Old Fire Soup (Slow-Boiled Soup)

There's an old saying in Hong Kong: "Three dishes, one soup, unlimited rice." Having a bowl of soup with a main meal is a staple for Hong Kongers. Old fire soup is a thousand-year-old health-preserving soup tradition in Hong Kong, slow-boiled with care to extract the nutritional essence of the ingredients. Different soups are prepared according to varying seasons, weather, and bodily conditions, offering significant health benefits while being incredibly delicious. Most Hong Kongers have some basic knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine principles, and every household has its own unique soup-making skills. Japanese people also have the habit of consuming soup with their main meals; they are also a long-lived nation, confirming the relationship between soup and longevity.

 

3. Prevalence of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and "Medicine and Food Share the Same Origin"

Experts believe that Hong Kong's TCM culture plays a positive role in longevity. The prevalence of TCM in Hong Kong also far exceeds that in mainland China, with over 7,000 registered TCM practitioners and an outpatient volume reaching 20%, making it the highest in China. TCM practitioners commonly adopt the traditional "sitting hall" diagnostic method, observing, listening, inquiring, and feeling the pulse to prescribe medicine accordingly. Freshly brewed and consumed Chinese medicine is a rare sight globally. Influenced by TCM culture, Hong Kongers have a particularly strong awareness of dietary therapy. Regularly drinking herbal soups and cooling teas is a basic practice for Hong Kongers, and TCM clinics welcome consultations at any time. Hong Kongers practice "medicine and food share the same origin," and with the health benefits of TCM being fully utilized in Hong Kong, longevity is inevitable.

 

Replicable Longevity and Beauty

Hong Kongers are stylish and beautiful, looking young while being healthy and long-lived, which is admirable. "Hong Konger" has become synonymous with beauty and health. "You look like a Hong Konger" has become the highest compliment one can receive in mainland China, making the praised person incredibly happy. Everyone wishes to uncover the secret to Hong Kongers' beauty and health, and the secret is actually quite simple. Just eat well, be treated well, practice "medicine and food share the same origin," eat plenty of bird's nest, drink lots of soup, and beauty and longevity can be replicated by anyone! 

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