A village committee in Chengdu, Sichuan province, announced a prize of 100,000 yuan ($15,000) for a centenarian 16 years ago and this year the award finally found its first winner.

A banquet was held at Chongyang Festival on Sunday, to honor Liu Guilin on becoming the first centenarian to win the prize in Langjiaqiao village (now Langjia community), Chengdu Business Daily reported.

Chongyang Festival, which falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month each year, is a traditional Chinese festival to pay respect and gratitude to seniors, and this year it was celebrated on Nov 26.

To raise people's awareness of respecting seniors, Langjiaqiao village committee set up prizes for seniors in 2001: 5,000 yuan for people reaching 90 and 100,000 yuan for those reaching 100.

Zhang Lian, head of Langjia community's senior association, said that Liu became the first centenarian in the community to win the award in 16 years, and he hoped some other residents who are in their 90s would reach 100.