Stone mountain steps climbing into autumn mist with distant walkers on the path

Festivals · Ninth day of the ninth lunar month — October.

Double Ninth Festival重阳节

Nine is the most yang of numbers, so the ninth day of the ninth month doubles it. The tradition is to climb: families go up a hill or a pagoda, drink chrysanthemum wine and wear dogwood as a charm against misfortune. It has since been designated China's day for the elderly, and the climbing and the respect-for-age themes have merged comfortably. It falls in the best hiking weather of the Chinese year, which makes it the most naturally visitor-friendly festival on this list — the correct way to observe it is simply to walk up something.

What to do

Climb something with a view. Any hill counts; the point is the ascent, not the altitude.
Chrysanthemums are at their peak — the flower shows in Beijing and Kaifeng are timed to this week.

Eat — Chongyang cake (重阳糕), a layered steamed cake, and chrysanthemum wine.

WhereBeijing Hangzhou