重阳节重陽節
Chóng yáng jié cung4 joeng4 zit3
- When
- 9th day of the 9th lunar month
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar
Summary
The Double Ninth, or Chongyang, Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. With two nines — yang numbers — it was thought a day to climb to high ground; today it is also a day to honour the elderly.
History
Nine is the greatest single yang digit, so the “double yang” of the ninth day of the ninth month was considered potent. A classic legend tells of Huan Jing, warned by an immortal to take his family up a mountain with dogwood and chrysanthemum wine on that day to escape a plague — they climbed, and disaster struck the village below. The custom of ascending heights and wearing dogwood follows.
What people do
People climb hills and pagodas, admire chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine, eat layered “Chongyang cake” (重阳糕), and visit and care for older relatives. Mainland China designates it a day to respect the elderly, and Taiwan observes it as Senior Citizens’ Day.
Festival idioms
- 登高望远登高望遠 dēng gāo wàng yuǎn dang1 gou1 mong6 jyun5 to stand tall and see far (idiom); taking the long and broad view
- 步步高升步步高陞 bù bù gāo shēng bou6 bou6 gou1 sing1 to climb step by step
- 敬老尊贤敬老尊賢 jìng lǎo zūn xián ging3 lou5 zyun1 jin4 to respect the wise and venerate the worthy (idiom); to honor the great and the good
- 老当益壮老當益壯 lǎo dāng yì zhuàng lou5 dong1 jik1 zong3 old but vigorous (idiom); hale and hearty despite the years
- 秋高气爽秋高氣爽 qiū gāo qì shuǎng cau1 gou1 hei3 song2 clear and refreshing autumn weather
- 返老还童返老還童 fǎn lǎo huán tóng faan2 lou5 waan4 tung4 to recover one's youthful vigor
- 寿比南山壽比南山 shòu bǐ Nán Shān sau6 bei2 naam4 saan1 Live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains! (idiom)
- 德高望重 dé gāo wàng zhòng dak1 gou1 mong6 zung6 (idiom) a person of virtue and prestige; a person of good moral standing and reputation
Public-holiday status
- Mainland China Observance A nationally recognised day to honour the elderly, but not a day off work.
- Taiwan Observance Observed as Senior Citizens’ Day; not a statutory day off.
- Hong Kong Public holiday Chung Yeung Festival.
- Macau Public holiday Chong Yeung Festival.
Lunar and Western dates
| Year | Lunar date | Western date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Wed, Oct 29, 2025 |
| 2026 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Sun, Oct 18, 2026 |
| 2027 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Fri, Oct 8, 2027 |
| 2028 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Thu, Oct 26, 2028 |
| 2029 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Tue, Oct 16, 2029 |
| 2030 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Sat, Oct 5, 2030 |
| 2031 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Fri, Oct 24, 2031 |
| 2032 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Tue, Oct 12, 2032 |
| 2033 | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Sat, Oct 1, 2033 |