[Photo by Xinhuanet.com]

The Double Ninth Festival, also named Chongyang Jie, falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar; hence it gets its name.

People drink chrysanthemum wine and eat chrysanthemum cakes. People in ancient times believed that, in addition to detoxification, chrysanthemums could drive away evil spirits.

It is a special day for people to pay their respects to the elderly when they can enjoy themselves. It has been declared a special Day for the Elderly. Since the festival is held in the golden season of autumn, many people go hiking and climbing in the countryside.