Li Ching-Yun: a man who managed to step over the boundaries of time (5 photos)
When it comes to long-livers, we usually mean people who have crossed the 100-year mark. This is certainly a respectable age. But there are also amazing examples of super-longevity in history. 
Like this man, who, although he remained unverified, forced us to reconsider the capabilities of the human body.
A Legend That Even History Couldn't Forget 
He passed away on May 6, 1933, but the numbers he left behind still excite minds. Li Ching-Yun claimed to have been born in 1736, but surviving documents hint at something even more incredible - 1677. If you believe the latter date, this man lived 256 years, leaving Jeanne Calment's official longevity record far behind.
But where did this mysterious date - 1677 - come from?
Traces in History 
In 1930, Professor Wu Chung-jie from Chengdu University discovered imperial records from 1827 in the archives, where the authorities congratulated Li on his 150th birthday. And half a century later, in 1877, he was already celebrated as a 200-year-old old man.
In 1928, a journalist from The New York Times went to the Chinese outback to find the legendary centenarian. Local elders said that their grandfathers knew Li as children, and he was already a grown man by then. You can believe the testimonies or not, but imperial documents are not just words.
The Secret of Longevity: Herbs, Qigong, and the "Turtle Heart" 
Born in Sichuan Province, Li devoted himself to studying medicinal herbs from the age of 10. He ate only rice and herbal teas, and at 71 (!) he joined the army as a martial arts master.
But the most amazing turn of events happened when he was 130 years old. According to Li's disciple Da Liu, the elder met a 500-year-old hermit who revealed to him the secrets of Baguazhang and Qigong. "Long life is in daily practice," said Li, and he seemed to know what he was talking about.
In 1927, General Yang Sen, amazed by the elder's clarity of mind and fortitude, asked him about the secret of longevity. Li's answer went down in history:
Keep your heart calm, sit like a tortoise, walk as briskly as a pigeon, and sleep as lightly as a dog.
The only surviving photograph of Li was taken at that time. It shows a tall old man with long nails and a youthful face.
Last Words and Legacy 
General Yang Sen
Before his death, Li said, "I have done all I had to in this world. Now it's time to go home."
After his death, General Yang Sen compiled evidence of his age in a report, "Facts about a 250-Year-Old Man."
Li Ching-Yun left behind 180 descendants, 23 wives (the 24th was with him until the end), and 11 generations of heirs. But most importantly, there is a mystery that science has yet to solve.
Could a person live for two and a half centuries? The story of Li Ching-Yun makes us doubt this (and gerontologists agree) - and at the same time believe in the impossible.
