Knowledge is ageless: Chinese octogenarian Tang Lin completes her eighth college diploma in 28 years

Octogenarian Tang Ling has just completed a diploma course – her eighth in 28 years – at Chengdu’s university for the elderly – in the past 28 years, the West China City Daily reports.

Tang, 83, has taken lessons in literature, flower planting, music and history. She attends the campus every week.

Elderly university has become an option for many retirees. Some who graduate become part-time teachers at other elderly universities after completing courses at Chengdu University for the Elderly.

A university official said demand for courses was strong, with the most popular being dance, music, traditional sword exercise and tai chi.

As of the end of 2014, there were 800 educational facilities at all levels for elderly in the city of 12 million. More than 230,000 elderly students were enrolled, accounting for more than 9 per cent of population aged 60 or above.