Thousands of elderly residents gathered at Shanghai National Tourist Resort on Oct 17 to start their climbing tour to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival.

The Double Ninth Festival in Chinese lunar calendar is also known as the "Old Men Festival". It is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar every year.

Chinese traditional festivals are often associated with awareness of natural timing. In September of the lunar calendar the sun recedes, the climate changes from warm to cold and trees and plants become withered. People have fondness and reverence for such seasonal changes.

Traditional customs of the festival include reaching a mountain peak, wearing dogwood, eating double ninth cake and enjoying chrysanthemum.

More than 11,000 elderly residents from different districts in Shanghai wearing red waistcoats began their climb at 9 am.

This event was co-organized by the Shanghai Municipal Committee on Aging, Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau and Songjiang People's Government. The event has been held every year in Shanghai city since 2000 and it is now in its 19th year. Every participants can get a memorial badge for the event.

After mountain climbing, the senior residents have the chance to enjoy the enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery in Guangfulin Relics Park can go to the park for free to enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery.

Senior residents gather at Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort to start their climbing campaign to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]