The Double Ninth Festival, observed on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, is a traditional Chinese festival that fell on Oct 17 this year.

It is a time when families gather to go hiking, drink chrysanthemum wine, eat double ninth cakes, and wear dogwood.

Since the pronunciation of nine in Chinese is the same as "eternal" or "forever", the festival is also regarded as a time to care for the elderly.

Take a look at how Zhanjiang residents celebrated the festival this year.

Officials of Mazhang district give out rice and peanut oil to impoverished elderly in Caiwu village, Huguang town. [Photo by Lin Shizhan/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

A Double Ninth Festival garden party is held at the Zhanjiang No 2 Veteran Cadre Activity Center, with hundreds of senior citizens attending. [Photo by Lin Shizhan/Zhanjiang Evening Post]

A medical worker measures the blood pressure of an elderly man in Wendong community. [Photo by Yin Yizhan/Zhanjiang Evening Post]

Students of Zhanjiang No 19 Middle School learn the traditional way of saluting the elderly. [Photo by Lin Shizhan/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

Six elderly couples have a group wedding ceremony to celebrate their long marriages together, welcoming the arrival of the Double Ninth Festival in Guanhu village, Suixi county. [Photo by Li Bo/gdzjdaily.com.cn]