Improved living and environment conditions have helped increase the number of centenarians in north China's coastal city of Tianjin to the present 145 from 70 in 1999.

Among the 145 centenarians, 113 are women, according to the Tianjin Municipal Committee on Aging.

Pan Shifang, a female aged 107, is the oldest person in Tianjin,followed by three 106-year-olds.

The majority of local centenarians are easy-going, kind and compassionate, and live in a pleasing and placid mood in the company of their offspring, said the committee, adding that thoughsome are not so well off, they could spend their remaining years peacefully.

From October 2001, the local government has doubled local centenarians' monthly subsidy for nutritious food to 200 yuan (some 24 US dollars).