Li Peifu smoked more cigarettes and ate stewed noodles to celebrate. [File photo]

The writer from Henan province who won the prize smoked two more cigarettes and ate Henan stewed noodles for celebration.

Li Peifu told Chinese journalists that he knew the good news through a phone call from the general secretary of the provincial Writers Association. At that moment, he was writing as usual.

"Winning the prize at more than 60 years old, I should be calm. But I feel really happy from the bottom of my heart. I don't write for prizes. I will keep on writing after winning the prize," he said.