Amid much festivity and fanfare, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China is being celebrated across the world on June 1. The Party set off on its historic journey with only 50 members, from a boat in East China's Zhejiang province on July 23, 1921.

In late January 1927, four Party members – Lyu Xiong, Hua Yuefeng, Zhou Shihua and Cheng Benyi – raised their hands for the establishment of the first Party organization in Quzhou city in Zhejiang province. The founding of the Quxian county branch of the CPC lit up the revolution in the city.

All those years later, four centenarian Party members recently reeled off stories of the experiences – recounting some of the ups and downs the CPC has had throughout its journey.

Xu Xiemei:

Xu's wishes to the CPC: "Best wishes that the CPC and China be stronger and more prosperous than ever." [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Xu Xiemei lives in Fuxi village, Qujiang district in Quzhou. She was born in 1919 and became a CPC member in 1958.

During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Xu's husband was killed and her four brothers-in-law went off to serve. Without a man at home, she could not make a living on her own, so she left her eight-year-old daughter in the care of her family and devoted herself to the cause of the revolution.

After being admitted to the Party in 1958, Xu worked on the expansion of the reservoir in her village and was elected as a deputy to the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress.

Xu Xiemei's 100th birthday in 2019 coincided with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

She was interviewed for this report and said affectionately: "Chinese peoples' lives have undergone tremendous change under the leadership of the Party; the country is stronger and more prosperous than ever."