In the mid-20th century, besides attracting attention in the political arena, the Song sisters were also admired for their beauty and longevity. Especially Song Meiling, who lived to be 106 years old, her health regimen during her lifetime attracted great attention.
Originally from Hainan, Song Meiling particularly loved to eat fruit and raw vegetables, and completely avoided greasy foods. She used to have a sweet tooth, but later tried to eat less sweets. She would weigh herself almost every day, and if she gained a little weight, she would switch to eating green salad and avoid any meat dishes until her weight returned to the standard range, then she would occasionally have a piece of steak.
Surprisingly, she always maintained her skin's radiant and clean appearance, and one of the reasons was that she insisted on having daily massages. Every day before her nap or before going to bed at night, two nurses would take turns massaging her. Typically, they would start from the eyes and face, then move to the chest, abdomen, lower limbs, foot arches, and soles. This full body massage can promote blood circulation, and according to traditional Chinese medicine, smooth circulation of qi and blood leads to healthy skin.
Reading magazines and newspapers was also a habit she maintained throughout the years. She would read the major English newspapers in New York every day. In her spare time, she would also paint Chinese paintings and practice calligraphy. Since the 1950s and 1960s, she had started learning Chinese painting and gradually became her favorite and most time-consuming hobby in her later years. When she was in Taipei, she specifically hired two Chinese painting teachers, and in her living room and bedroom, there were no antiques or famous paintings, only her own artworks hanging on the walls. Her obsession with Chinese painting reached the point of being so engrossed that she forgot about the passage of time. Perhaps it was this pursuit that kept her mentally focused and oblivious to the passing of time.
One open secret to Song Meiling's longevity is that whenever she felt unwell, she would seek medical attention immediately.
