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Huang Zushen attends the commencement ceremony at Sichuan University on May, 23, 2017. [Photo/West China City Daily]

The oldest doctoral graduate of Sichuan University conducted his doctoral dissertation defense at the age of 74.

Huang Zushen embarked on gaining his doctorate at Sichuan University after he retired, and four years later, he made it.

Huang was born in Chengdu, Sichuan in June 1943, went to Taiwan at the age of six and later went to America where he got a master's degree and gained citizenship. He had business in Taiwan and Yangzhou, which has expanded to Russia, Israel and Malaysia. In 2010 when he retired, he had his children run his businesses and started to think about pursuing a doctorate. In 2012, Huang Zushen became one of the applicants for a doctoral degree at Sichuan University in China, when he was 70 years old.

'He is even six years older than me! I once wondered whether he could make it through the upcoming busy school days. However, his quick thinking and good health convinced me when we first met." Chen Tingxiang, Huang's tutor said.

The first time Huang discussed the dissertation proposal with his tutor, he put forward 85 potential topics! And 21 of them were identified as possible research directions. Finally, he decided to study how American military support influenced China's air force development during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, which was inspired by his interests on China's modern history.

His experience in Taiwan and America helped him a lot in his research. He stayed in the American National Archives for two months and found documents that recorded historical facts during that period. In Taiwan, he found materials about China's air force. Even though he was over 70, he often didn't stop reading until midnight.

Commenting on Huang's dissertation, which runs to 320 pages with 300,000 words, Chen Tingxiang said, 'It's original and innovative in material, perspective and argumentation."

Huang attributed his good health to exercise, going to the gym and swimming regularly. During his four years at Sichuan University, he became a brother to all who knew him, and it was as if they forget his real age.

He also tends to keep up with technological developments. The apps that are prevailing among young people also are nothing new to him. He asked his children, half-jokingly, for the best iPad and iPhone as his graduation gifts.

As for language, he could speak Chinese, English, Taiwanese and could communicate with his teachers and classmates in the Sichuan dialect.

Having experienced different life styles in many countries and areas, it eventually occurred to him that Chengdu is the city he likes best.

“I hope to stay in Chengdu after graduation and my tutor may offer me a job," said Huang, smiling at his tutor.

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