Abstract: Yang Wanli (1127-1206) spent his whole life pursuing the pastoral life "on meager food to end in old age". In his early years, he had to serve the office in different places because of his straight personality. Although caught in the vortex of party struggle in his late years, he was able to retire safe and sound. He enjoyed a long life and died at 80. Departing from his 238 existing diet poems, this paper gives a glimpse of his diet that was healthy to both body and mind, his health preservation thought and his way of life before coming to the discovery of the following secrets of his longevity: first, a reasonable diet structure; second, the choice of fresh ingredients; and third, observation of abstinence.

Key words: Yang Wanli, diet poem, health preservation thought, way of life