Among China’s traditional festivals, the Double Ninth Festival, centered on respecting and caring for the elderly, and featuring unique customs such as mountain-climbing and chrysanthemum appreciation, embodies the ancient Chinese yearning for longevity and well-being. It is an important festival that combines humanistic feelings with natural charm. On the 9th day of the 9th lunar month every year, Chinese people celebrate the festival with various rituals, inheriting thousands of years of cultural heritage and expressing gratitude to their elders. For foreign travelers, visiting China during the Double Ninth Festival not only allows them to experience the elegance of climbing mountains and enjoying chrysanthemums in autumn but also deeply understand the ethical concept of “respecting the elderly” in Chinese culture, and feel the vivid vitality of traditional festivals in modern times.
The origin of the Double Ninth Festival can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, took shape in the Western Han Dynasty, and became popular in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, with a history of more than 2,000 years. The name “Double Ninth” comes from the fact that “nine” is a yang number in traditional Chinese culture, and the double nine symbolizes “longevity and well-being”, which is the source of the festival’s core meaning. Taoism incorporated the Double Ninth Festival into the folk custom system, believing that the 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the day when immortals climb mountains to avoid disasters, and the folk then derived the custom of climbing mountains to pray for blessings and ward off evil spirits. In modern times, China designated the Double Ninth Festival as “Senior Citizens’ Day” in 1989, further strengthening the theme of “respecting, caring for and helping the elderly”, and perfectly integrating traditional festivals with modern ethics.
“Mountain-climbing” is the most representative custom of the Double Ninth Festival, which has been passed down from ancient times to the present and is widely popular. The ancients believed that climbing mountains on the Double Ninth Festival could ward off disasters, pray for blessings, and strengthen the body. Today, this custom has evolved into an outdoor activity that combines fitness and leisure. Every Double Ninth Festival, people invite relatives and friends, accompany their elders to climb famous mountains and suburban highlands, enjoy the distant view under the clear autumn sky, and admire the mountainous autumn scenery. Mountain-climbing resorts in different regions have their own characteristics: Xiangshan Mountain in Beijing not only allows mountain-climbing but also offers a beautiful view of red leaves in autumn, with layers of forests dyed red; Huangshan Mountain in Anhui is famous for its strange pines, exotic rocks and sea of clouds, and climbing to the top is like being in a fairyland; Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan combines natural scenery with Taoist culture, allowing visitors to feel thousands of years of cultural heritage while climbing; in addition, urban parks and suburban mountains in various places have become the first choice for ordinary people to climb, with a warm and lively atmosphere.
In addition to mountain-climbing, appreciating chrysanthemums and wearing dogwood are also classic customs of the Double Ninth Festival, carrying unique cultural meanings. The 9th day of the 9th lunar month coincides with the blooming season of chrysanthemums. The ancients called chrysanthemums “flowers of longevity”, and appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking chrysanthemum wine became elegant activities for the Double Ninth Festival. Today, many cities hold chrysanthemum exhibitions, where various types of chrysanthemums bloom in competition, with different shapes and fragrant scents, attracting people to stop and admire. Wearing dogwood originated from the ancient people’s concept of warding off evil spirits. Dogwood has a strong smell, and the ancients believed that wearing dogwood could drive away mosquitoes and ward off evil spirits. Although this custom has gradually faded in cities, it is still retained in some rural areas, becoming an important symbol of inheriting traditions.
“Respecting the elderly” is the core ethical connotation of the Double Ninth Festival and the core theme of the contemporary festival. On the Double Ninth Festival, juniors express their love for their elders in various ways: accompanying elders to have a family reunion dinner, making or giving Double Ninth cakes by hand, taking elders for physical examinations and trips, or preparing thoughtful gifts for them. Double Ninth cake is a special food for the festival. Because “cake” is homophonic with “high” in Chinese, it fits the custom of mountain-climbing, symbolizing “stepping higher and longevity”. Double Ninth cake is mostly made of glutinous rice, with a soft and glutinous taste, and can be matched with fillings such as red dates, red bean paste and walnut kernels, which are sweet but not greasy. Double Ninth cakes in different regions have different flavors: those in the Jiangnan area are exquisite and small, while those in the northern area are solid. Foreign travelers can taste authentic Chinese pastries and feel the food culture of the festival.
For foreign travelers, it is necessary to respect local customs and cultural details and make travel preparations when participating in Double Ninth Festival activities. First of all, scenes of accompanying elders to climb mountains can be seen everywhere. It is necessary to be polite and modest, take the initiative to provide convenience for the elderly, and avoid making noise. Secondly, when climbing mountains, choose a suitable route according to your physical strength, check the weather in advance, prepare comfortable shoes and socks, drinking water and sun protection products. The temperature difference in mountainous areas is large in autumn, so it is recommended to carry a light coat to keep warm. When participating in chrysanthemum appreciation activities, do not pick chrysanthemums or damage the scenery at will, and abide by the scenic area regulations. In addition, if you want to experience the custom of respecting the elderly, you can choose to accompany local elders to participate in activities or send simple blessings to the elderly, feeling the strong family atmosphere.
The Double Ninth Festival is not only an encounter with autumn but also a vivid embodiment of Chinese culture. It integrates natural fun, prayer intentions and respect for the elderly, retaining ancient folk rituals and highlighting the ethical values of modern society. In the process of experiencing Double Ninth customs, foreign travelers can not only enjoy China’s autumn scenery but also understand the deep connotation of “gratitude to elders and awe of nature” in Chinese culture, making this journey more unforgettable because of the warm humanistic atmosphere. Whether climbing mountains to look far, appreciating chrysanthemums and tasting cakes, or witnessing the warmth of respecting the elderly, you can feel the cultural charm of the Double Ninth Festival that has spanned thousands of years.
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