Communities across China marked the Chongyang Festival with festive events honoring the elderly, highlighting a nationwide emphasis on respect and care for senior citizens.
Also known as the Double Ninth Festival or Seniors' Day, the Chongyang Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It fell on Wednesday this year.
In Tai'an City in east China's Shandong Province, seniors climbed the historic Mount Tai, ascending its ancient stone steps to enjoy panoramic views of the city and embrace the traditional custom of "climbing high" on this day.
In Fuzhou City in east China's Fujian Province, laughter filled the air at a lively senior-friendly fun sports event. Games such as "bouncing ping-pong balls" and "water-bottle bowling" not only brought smiles to senior participants' faces, but also helped improve their hand-eye coordination.
In Jianshi County in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hubei Province, around 1,000 elderly residents danced to upbeat rhythms in a vibrant performance of the Tujia ethnic group's traditional "Baishou Dance", showcasing the energy and spirit of China's aging population in the new era.
Long-table banquets brought warmth to seniors in Pinghu City in east China's Zhejiang Province and in Huainan City in east China's Anhui Province. Gathered around steaming plates of Chongyang cake, a symbolic treat for longevity and good health, elders shared stories and cherished the company of friends and neighbors.
In Shanghai's Minhang District, seniors immersed themselves in hands-on experiences of intangible cultural heritage, including rice cake pounding, paper cutting, and bamboo weaving.
In Bei'an City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, medical teams visited local nursing homes to offer free health check-ups and consultations to the elderly.
Looking to the future of elderly care, Chengdu City in southwest China's Sichuan Province unveiled more than 100 innovative smart elderly care products designed for a wide range of applications, including medical assistance, rehabilitation training, and daily companionship.
Beijing launched its first "senior-friendly smart technology experience center", featuring smart home solutions such as height-adjustable sinks with grab bars and fall-detection alert systems. The center provides a comprehensive, real-life demonstration of how technologies can deliver comfortable, safe, and convenient support for older adults in everyday life.
China marks Chongyang Festival with nationwide events honoring seniors
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday that the relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stands at a new historical starting point.
Xi arrived in the DPRK capital of Pyongyang earlier on Monday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Delivering a speech at a welcome banquet hosted by Kim, Xi pointed out that China and the DPRK, linked by mountains and rivers and sharing a common future, have seen their traditional friendship passed down across generations and grow ever stronger over time through the test of the evolving international landscape.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and the China-DPRK relationship stands at a new historical starting point, Xi said, noting that he has reached important consensus with Kim during his visit.
From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, both leaders have agreed to seize the general trend of the times, respond to the shared aspirations of the two peoples, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people bonds, promote the high-level development of China-DPRK relations, jointly open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of both countries, and contribute to the continuous progress of human society, Xi said.
The successful convening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK this year has made strategic plans and major arrangements for the long-term development of the Party and the country's cause, ushering in a new period of comprehensive development of the DPRK's socialist cause, Xi said.
As good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, the Chinese side sincerely wishes that, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim, the DPRK people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set by the Ninth Congress of the WPK and make constant new achievements in the socialist cause of the DPRK, Xi said.
On behalf of the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK, Kim extended the warmest welcome to Xi on his visit. Kim said that Pyongyang was filled with an atmosphere of friendship on this special day as the DPRK's Party, government and people warmly welcomed their most distinguished guest.
Noting that Xi's first overseas trip of the year had brought him to the DPRK, Kim said this fully demonstrated the great importance Xi attached to developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, and constituted the most valuable support for the DPRK's socialist cause.
Noting the meeting with Xi came nine months after their previous meeting, Kim said that during this meeting, they reached important consensus on further advancing DPRK-China relations with new contemporary connotations in light of new changing circumstances, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, which will surely accelerate the development of the DPRK-China friendship with profound historical traditions, and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The DPRK people take heartfelt joy in the remarkable achievements made by the brotherly Chinese people, Kim said, expressing belief that under the leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the great Chinese people will surely create greater achievements in building a great modern socialist country in all respects, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and completing the new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
