climbing mountains
登高
people like to climb mountains on this festival, so double ninth festival is also called “mountain-climbing festival “.
the 9th lunar month, with clear autumn sky and bracing air, is a good time for sightseeing. so people, both ancient and present, love to go sightseeing this month.
陰曆9月這天，正值秋高氣爽，適合旅行觀光。所以，一到金秋九月，不論男女老少，都喜歡在此時旅行登高。
apart from expelling bad luck and disasters, climbing mounting also indicates “climbing to a higher position”, and it is also an important reason why ancient people pay much attention about this custom. another reason that climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that is has a meaning of “climb to a longevous life”. also for this reason people believe that climbing mountains can make people live a more longevous life.
登高可以驅除霉運，還意指“晉升高位”。這也是古人為什麼很重視這一傳統習俗。登高之所以受人重視，特別受老人重視，是因為人們認為登高還意寓“登頂長壽”。除此之外，人們還相信登山能使人健康長壽。
it is really refreshing to climb mountains and enjoy the beauty of nature at this bright and clear time in autumn. climbing mountains on double ninth festival was already prevailing in the tang dynasty, and a lot of poems were devoted to this custom.
在九月登高既是件愜意放鬆的事，又是件可以欣賞到自然之美的幸事。重陽節登高，在唐代就開始盛行了，古時也有很多跟重陽登高有關的詩歌：
enjoying chrysanthemum flowers
賞菊花
chrysanthemum originated in china and was recorded in some chinese books as early as the 5th century b.c. chrysanthemum blossom in the ninth lunar month have a beautiful name of “flower of longevity”.
菊花產自中國，最早記載始於公元前5世紀。菊花在陰曆九月盛開，它有一個美稱“長壽之花”
drinking chrysanthemum flower wine
飲菊花酒
the chrysanthemum flower wine is unique in brewing. in ancient times，people usually picked fresh chrysanthemum flowers and leaves on the 9th of the 9th lunar month, and brewed the mixture of them and grains into the wine, which would not be drunk until the same day next year. the wine is said to have wholesome effects on sharpness of the eye, alleviation of headache, drop of hypertension, reduction of weight and removal of stomach trouble, thus contributing to longevity. it is said that the drinkers of the chrysanthemum wine would be free from evil and have strong physique against cold weather.
菊花酒的釀造十分獨特。古時，人們在九月九日採摘新鮮的菊花和菊花葉，然後把它們和穀粒一起釀製成酒。等到來年的同一時候再打開品嘗。據說，菊花酒具有清神明目，減肥降血壓，治療胃病的功效。因此，可以飲菊花酒可以使人長壽。另外，飲菊花酒還有驅邪抗寒的效用。
wearing dogwood
插茱萸
the dogwood is a species of evergreen arbor; it is heavy-scented plant whose fruit is edible and stock and leaves can be medicinal materials. they can expel insects, get rid of the humidity, help digestion and cure inner heat. it puts out purple flowers in spring and bears, in autumn, purplish-brown fruit that is sour, puckery and mild in nature.
茱萸為長青喬木。該植物具有濃香，它的果實可食用或乾存。它的葉子可以用作藥材。茱萸具有驅蟲去濕，助消化去內熱的功效。春季它開紫色的花，然後開始孕育果實。到了秋天，就結出了紫褐色，味酸，帶皺，質感柔軟的果實。
eating double ninth cake
吃重陽糕
the double ninth cake is also known as “chrysanthemum cake” or “flower cake”. it dates back to the zhou dynasty. it is said that the cake was originally prepared after autumn harvests for farmers to have a taste of what was just in season, and it gradually grew into the present cake for people to eat on the double ninth day.
重陽糕又名“菊花糕”或“花糕”重陽糕的歷史可追溯到周朝。相傳，最初人們是為了慶祝秋收而製作重陽糕的。到現在，就逐漸發展為在重陽佳節人們常吃的一種糕點了。
flying a paper crane
放紙鳶
paper crane is just kite. according to our traditions and customs, flying kites usually happen at the qing ming festival. but tomb sweeping festival is during the rainy season which obviously is not suit for flying a kite, while double ninth day owns clear autumn sky and crisp air making kite flying a best outdoor activity.
紙鳶類似於風箏。據中國傳統習俗，人們通常在清明節放風箏。但每逢清明，也是雨紛紛的時節，因而並不適合放風箏。相比之下，重陽節這天，秋高氣爽，最適合戶外放風箏。