Qi Xingguan district of Bijie and Luodian county in Qiannan prefecture, Guizhou province, were recognized as "Valleys of Longevity" by the Guizhou Provincial Geriatric Society on Thursday. The number of "Valleys of Longevity" in Guizhou now totals nine.

Three core indexes serve as the evaluation standard, including the ratio of centenarians to the total population, which must exceed 5-to-100,000; the percentage of the residents over 80 to the total population, which must be beyond 1.2 percent; and the average life expectancy, which must surpass 71.8 years.

An evaluation system with six categories and 18 items is being taken into consideration, containing economic development, social security, environmental protection and cultural atmosphere.

Qi Xingguan district won the title of "Valley of Longevity" because it meets the three evaluation standards. Currently, 64 centenarians live in Qi Xingguang district, for a ratio of 5.7-to-100,000. The number residents over 80 is 21,900, accounting for 1.44 percent of the whole population. The average life expectancy surpasses 72 years old.

Luodian county also meets all the requirements. It has 24 centenarians, for a ratio of 9.6-to-100,000; 4,648 people are over 80, accounting for 1.37 percent of the population; and the average life expectancy surpasses 72.68 years.

Seven other counties, including Shiqian, Yinjiang, Jiangkou, Yupin, Congjiang, Huangping and Taijiang were awarded as the first batch of "Valleys of Longevity" in Guizhou in April 2010.