Smell China

Chung Yeung Festival or called The Double Ninth Festival is one of Chinese custom festivals. It is in the ninth day of the ninth lunar month of Chinese traditional calendar, Chung Yeung Festival always in October or November..Chung Yeung Festival has been formed as early as in Warring States period and being officially designated as folk festivals in Tang Dynasty until now.

Chung Yeung Festival has several custom activities to people. Firstly is to climb mountains or hills. In that day, it always happens in late autumn, and the weather is always windy and comfort, when people climb up to the top of mountains, people will feel relax, happy and keep healthy. Secondly is enjoying chrysanthemum. It is a day that the chrysanthemums bloom luxuriantly. Since Wei Dynasty and Jin Dynasty, holding parties enjoying chrysanthemums and drinking becomes fashionable. Thirdly the double nine has the same pronunciation of long or long live, so people also consider this day as the symbol of longevity for the old people, and because of this, Chung Yeung Festival is also known as “ Festival for the Eldery”.

In 1980’s, in some place of China, people promote Chung Yeung Festival as a day for respecting, care and love elderly people. China attaches great importance to the intangible cultural heritage protection, in May 20, 2006, approved by the State Council, Chung Yeung Festival was inscribed on the National Heritage List.