A centenarian practicing martial arts with a sword in a courtyard attracted a large crowd of onlookers in Gulou District in Kaifeng, Central China's Henan province.

Sun Xiang, 102, said that when he was 20, he learned martial arts in Kaifeng from his master, Sun Ming, a team leader for Feng Yuxiang, a legendary general of the Kuomintang government.

Sun's daughter-in-law, Zhao Guifang, 68, related how difficult it was at the time for Sun to learn the martial arts.

"During those years, he worked in the fields in the daytime, while practicing the martial arts with his friends in the evening. It was difficult to count how many shoes were worn out," Zhao said.

When asked the secret of longevity, Sun laughed and waved his hands, meaning "no secrets".

Basking in the yard, the centenarian looked very happy.

"He talks less as he grows older," Zhao said. "He is optimistic, he likes to work in the fields and talks with the people. He would sell vegetables himself when he was nearly 90 years old."

In addition, Sun is not a picky eater; his favor food is Kaifeng baozi, a steamed stuffed bun native to his hometown.