Hu Hai, a 68-year-old man from Shanghai, China, has been praised for his incredibly youthful looks and spirit ever since he won the title of Shanghai’s Most Modern Grandpa, two years ago.

You probably couldn’t guess just by looking at him, but Hu Hai was born in 1950, to a couple of communist Chinese revolutionaries. His father passed away when he was only a child, so he and his six brothers and sister were raised by his mother. As a child, Hai practiced several sports, and even though he never pursued a professional athletic career, he credits his passion for physical exercise for his youthful physical appearance and spirit.

Hai first made headlines in China two years ago, when he participated in a local talent show for senior citizens in Shanghai, shocking both the audience and the jury with his boyish looks and attitude, which greatly contrasted his age. He bagged the title of Most Modern Grandpa and has since made appearances on television, in fashion magazines and even at modelling events.

Asked what the secret to his age-defying looks was, the 68-year-old said that it was actually a combination of factors. To keep in shape he practices yoga, meditation and hanging upside down for 30 minutes a day. The latter apparently reduces wrinkles, keeps his skin from getting saggy and even prevents hair loss.

In terms of diet, Hu Hai prefers small but hearty meals, and also takes a variety of health supplements, including vitamins and collagen pills.

But what truly makes Hai appear so much younger than his age is his attitude. He claims that he continues to feel 20-years-old and will probably feel that way until he draws his last breath. To him age is just a number, and as long as he feels young, that number doesn’t affect him at all.

“Everyone will be old some day, there’s no way to avoid it,” Hu Hai told Read01. But if you feel old and are just waiting to die, if you don’t want to learn or experience new things anymore, you really are old, no matter your age.”

Hu Hai believes that each person has three ages: the mental age, the physiological age and the physical age. The last two can be measured by medical instruments and tests, and Hu claims doctors told him he has the body and bodily functions of a 40-year-old. But his mental age is much lower.

“I think my mental age will always be 20-years-old,” Hu Hai says. “Regardless of what others say, I am 20-years-old. I can do what 20-year-old people can do.”

“Youth is a kind of attitude, and if you have passion and curiosity, you can live a different life,” the 68-year-old added.

Interestingly, Hu Hai is not China’s only young grandpa. Last year, we featured the country’s “hottest grandpa”, Wang Deshun, who is now 82-years-old.

 

Photos: Weibo