The Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, which usually falls in October. It is a day to pay respects to seniors and appreciate the beauty of autumn.

The origin of the Double Ninth Festival can be traced back to ancient times. According to legend, a man named Huan Jing, who lived during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), was warned by a fortune-teller that he and his family would be in danger on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. To avoid this, Huan Jing climbed a high mountain along with his family and friends. From the mountaintop, they could see the town below, and realized that the fortune-teller's prediction had come true – a plague had broken out in the town. From then on, people started to climb mountains on the Double Ninth Festival as a way to avoid misfortune and ward off evil spirits.

Apart from mountain climbing, there are other customs associated with the Double Ninth Festival. One of them is to enjoy chrysanthemum flowers, which bloom in the autumn. Chrysanthemums are admired for their beauty and also believed to have medicinal properties. Another custom is to eat double-ninth cakes, which are made of rice flour, sugar, and other ingredients. These cakes are shaped like a flower or a mountain, and are said to symbolize good luck and happiness.

In recent years, the Double Ninth Festival has been recognized as a day to honor senior citizens. It is also a time for family reunions, as people gather to climb mountains or visit their elderly relatives. The festival is a reminder of the importance of respecting and caring for the elderly, as well as appreciating the changing seasons and the beauty of nature.