Wednesday, 30 July 2025 International Friendship Day, officially recognized by the United Nations, is celebrated annually on 30 July to emphasize the importance of friendship in fostering peace, solidarity, and mutual understanding among peoples and cultures across the globe. The day encourages individuals, communities, and nations to build bridges of harmony, especially in times of rising tension, conflict, or division.
Li Ching-Yuen, also written as Li Ching-Yun or Li Zhenyuan, remains one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in the history of human longevity. Born in China—some claim in 1677, others suggest as early as 1736—Li’s life spanned centuries. When he died in 1933, reports varied wildly about his age, ranging from 197 to an astonishing 256 years. Whether myth or fact, his story weaves together traditional Chinese medicine, spiritual discipline, and the secrets of a slow and balanced life. Early Life and Mysterious Origins Li Ching-Yuen was allegedly born in Qi Jiang Xian, Szechuan province, China. While no official birth record exists from the 1600s, a 1930 article in the New York Times cited Chinese government documents and university records suggesting he was born in 1677. Even more astonishing, one professor from Chengdu University claimed to have found records showing that Li had been congratulated by the imperial Chinese government on his 150th birthday in 1827—and again o...