Explorers throughout history have searched for the legendary fountain of youth. And while the elusive fountain has yet to be found, certain places across the world have emerged as centres where people live substantially longer than the worldwide average (around 71 years), and each has its own secret source of vitality.

　　历代探险者一直在追寻传说中的青春之泉。尽管还未找到这难寻的泉眼，但是世界上的一些特定地方已经俨然成为寿命明显高于全球71岁平均水平的中心，每个地方都有自己秘密的活力之源。

　　We talked to residents in some of the countries where people live the longest，to uncover the reasons why these places seem to nurture longevity.

　　我们和一些长寿国家中的居民进行交谈，来发掘这些地方孕育长寿的原因。

　　Japan

　　日本

　　Living to 83 on average, the Japanese have long had one of the highest life expectancies. Okinawa, often called ‘the land of immortals’, has been a global centre for longevity research, as these southern Japanese islands have more than 400 centenarians. Much credit for this has been given to the local diet, which includes plentiful tofu and sweet potato, and a small amount of fish. Active social circles among older residents and a strong community also contribute to lower levels of stress and a strong sense of belonging.

　　长久以来，日本人的平均寿命为83岁，一直是寿命最长的国家之一。经常被称作“永生之地”的冲绳一直是长寿研究的全球中心，因为这些日本南部岛屿拥有400多名百岁老人。该地获此殊荣多归功于当地饮食，当地饮食包含大量豆腐和甘薯以及少量的鱼。老年人间活跃的社会圈以及强大的社区也降低了压力水平，形成了强烈的归属感。

　　To reap these benefits, learning the language as an expat is critical, said Daniele Gatti, CEO of Velvet Media and long-time Japan resident. “Japan has an amazing quality of life if you can get past the language hurdle to better understand the mentality” – which is more different from Western culture than most visitors think, she added. “Expats willing to move here should think seriously about putting a major time allocation into learning the language. It’s key to integrating deeper in the local society and living a full and meaningful life.”

　　天鹅绒传媒首席执行官兼长期以来的日本居民丹尼尔·加蒂(Daniele Gatti)说，为了获得这些好处，作为外籍人士学习语言至关重要。她补充说：“如果你可以跨越语言障碍更好的理解他们的心理，日本的生活质量惊人，他们的心理状态比游客想象地同西方文化更不同。愿意移居这里的外籍人士应该慎重考虑一下花很多时间学习日语。学习日语是进一步融入当地社会并且生活的圆满、充满意义的关键。”

　　Spain

　　西班牙

　　The Mediterranean diet, rich in heart-healthy olive oil, vegetables and wine, has long contributed to Spain’s long-lived population (averaging 82.8). But Spain has another longevity secret up its sleeve: the siesta.

　　西班牙的长寿人口(平均82.8岁)一直归功于地中海饮食富含有利于心脏健康的橄榄油，蔬菜和葡萄酒。但是西班牙还有一个长寿秘诀：午休。

　　“People think all the Spaniards are doing la siesta when the shops are closed between 2:00 and 5:00, but it is simply how the working shift is organised,” said Miquel ?ngel Diez i Besora from Barcelona and Gray Line tour guide. “If you have a continuous shift and just a half an hour break for lunch, then you eat a quick takeaway. On the contrary, if you are forced to stop for two or three hours, then you go home or go to a restaurant where you can sit down, eat two courses and dessert, and have time enough to digest well, it’s going to be healthier than a takeaway.”

　　来自巴塞罗那的灰线导游Miquel?ngelDiez i Besora表示：“当商店在2:00至5:00间关闭时，人们会认为所有的西班牙人都在做午餐，但这只是工作班次的组织方式。如果你连续轮班，午餐只有半小时的时间，那么你可以快点吃个外卖。相反，如果你被迫停下来两三个小时，那么你就有时间回家或去一个可以坐下来的餐厅，吃两道菜和甜点，并且有足够的时间消化，这将会比外卖更健康。"

　　The density of Spanish cities also gets people moving more, since shops and restaurants all tend to be within walking distance of most people’s residences.

　　西班牙城市的密度也让人们可以多走动，因为西班牙的商店和饭馆多在人民居住地的步行范围之内。

　　Singapore

　　新加坡

　　With broad access to the country’s state-of-the-art medical facilities and what’s been called a ‘miracle’ healthcare system, Singaporeans are living longer than ever at an average of 83.1 years old. The country has one of the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, and makes preventative care a focus of its healthcare.

　　新加坡人普遍享有国家最先进的医疗设备，该设备被称为“奇迹”医疗体系，新加坡人的寿命达到了平均83.1岁的历史最高记录。该国是世界上产妇和婴儿死亡率最低的国家之一，预防性护理是其医疗保健的重点。

　　The culture and accessible urban environment also contributes to a longer life. Health-averse habits are also harder to maintain in Singapore.

　　文化和无障碍的城市环境也有助于延长生命。有悖健康的习惯也很难在新加坡维持。

　　Switzerland

　　瑞士

　　Men fare better in Switzerland than anywhere else in the world, living to be 81 on average. As one of Europe’s wealthiest countries, access to high-quality healthcare, strong personal safety and sense of wellbeing contributes to the high rank – with some studies even pointing to the country’s high intake of cheese and dairy as a leading factor.

　　瑞士男性的寿命比世界其它地方都高，平均寿命为81岁。作为欧洲最富有的国家之一，高质量的医疗保健，强人身安全以及幸福感都有助于高排名，一些研究甚至指出该国的高奶酪摄入量和奶制品是长寿的主要因素。

　　South Korea

　　韩国

　　South Korea is set to be the first country to hit a life expectancy of 90 years according to recent research, which credits a strong and growing economy, broad access to healthcare and lower blood pressure than Western countries for its upward trajectory.The country also has a diet rich in fermented foods, which are said to lower cholesterol, boost immunity and inhibit cancer. “As a whole, Korean food is high in fibre and nutrient-dense,” Hoheb said.

　　据最近的研究，韩国将成为首个寿命达到90岁的国家，这归功于强壮和蓬勃成长的经济，普遍享有的医疗保健和因为经济上升带来的低于西方国家的血压。

　　Residents say a cultural focus on community and the associated traditions contributes to the everyday quality of life here. “The Jimjilbang (public bathhouse) brings together people to recreate, to socialise and to help reduce stress,” said Camille Hoheb, founder of Wellness Tourism Worldwide. “In South Korea, there’s also an overall sense of mindfulness that comes with the Buddhist mindset and an overall attitude toward a culture of cooperation .”

　　居民表示，对社区的文化关注和相关的传统有助于这里的日常生活质量。健康旅游全球创始人Camille Hoheb说：“Jimjilbang(公共浴室)将人们汇聚在一起休闲，社交和减轻压力。在韩国，佛教思想带来了整体思想观，以及合作文化整体取向。”