The 9th lunar month, with the clear autumn sky and bracing air, is a good time for sightseeing. So people, both ancient and present, love to go sightseeing this month.

阴历9月这天，正值秋高气爽，适合旅行观光。所以，一到金秋九月，不论男女老少，都喜欢在此时旅行登高。

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 to this custom. Another reason that climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that it 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.

登高可以驱除霉运，还意指“晋升高位”。这也是古人为什么很重视这一传统习俗。登高之所以受人重视，特别受老人重视，是因为人们认为登高还意寓“登顶长寿”。除此之外，人们还相信登山能使人健康长寿。

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.

在九月登高既是件惬意放松的事，又是件可以欣赏到自然之美的幸事。重阳节登高，在唐代就开始盛行了，古时也有很多跟重阳登高有关的诗歌。

Though the name of "Gao" started from the Six Dynasties, the cakes had already existed in the Han Dynasty, which was called "Er" in China at that time. It is made of rice flour, which is classified into two types: paddy rice flour and millet rice flour. In September, the millet is ripe. It is regarded as the food just in season, which is offered to ancestors as sacrifices.

尽管“糕”这个名称源于六朝，但这种东西东汉就有了。那是人们称之为“饵”。饵用米粉做成，一般有两种：谷米粉和粟米粉。九月，粟米成熟，它是当季的食物，通常会献给祖先作为祭品。

In China, "gao(cake)" has the same pronunciation with "gao(height)". Mountains are high, so eating cake can, by a stretch of the imagination, take the place of going for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers,   like a tower.

在中国文化中，“糕”和“高”同音，所以吃糕也就代表了“登高”的意思，祝愿百事俱高。重阳糕没有固定的样式，但通常做成九层，看起来像一座塔一样。

One of the most popular traditions of the Double Ninth Festival is appreciating chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemums are considered to be a symbol of longevity and vitality. People also drink chrysanthemum wine, which is made by soaking chrysanthemums in alcohol.

重阳节最流行的传统之一是赏菊。菊花被认为是长寿和活力的象征。人们还会将菊花浸泡在酒中制成菊花酒饮用。

Drinking   Chrysanthemum Flower Wine重阳佳节饮菊花酒，是中国的传统习俗。

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 the 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 a strong physique against cold weather.

菊花酒的酿造十分独特。古时，人们在九月九日采摘新鲜的菊花和菊花叶，然后把它们和谷粒一起酿制成酒。等到来年的同一时候再打开品尝。据说，菊花酒具有清神明目，减肥降血压，治疗胃病的功效。因此，饮菊花酒可以使人长寿。另外，饮菊花酒还有驱邪抗寒的效用。

The dogwood is a species of evergreen arbor; it is a 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.

茱萸为长青乔木。该植物具有浓香，它的果实可食用或干存。它的叶子可以用作药材。茱萸具有驱虫去湿，助消化去内热的功效。春季它开紫色的花，然后开始孕育果实。到了秋天，就结出了紫褐色，味酸，带皱，质感柔软的果实。

Paper Crane is just a 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 suited for flying a kite, while Double Ninth Day owns clear autumn sky and crisp air making kite flying the best outdoor activity.

纸鸢类似于风筝。据中国传统习俗，人们通常在清明节放风筝。但每逢清明，也是雨纷纷的时节，因而并不适合放风筝。相比之下，重阳节这天，秋高气爽，最适合户外放风筝。

Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers

Wang Wei

As a lonely stranger in the strange land,

Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.

Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,

All but one is present at the planting of flowers.

《登高》

【唐】杜甫

风急天高猿啸哀，渚清沙白鸟飞回。

无边落木萧萧下，不尽长江滚滚来。

万里悲秋常作客，百年多病独登台。

艰难苦恨繁霜鬓，潦倒新停浊酒怀。

Ascend

Du Fu

In a sharp gale from the wide sky apes are whimpering

Over the clear lake and white sand birds are flying homeward

The immensity of leaves rustling fell

The never-ending Yangtze river rolling on

I have come thousands of miles away, sad now with autumn

And with my hundred years of woe, I climb this height alone.

Ill fortune has laid a bitter frost on my temples，

Heart-ache and weariness are thick dust in my wine.

《醉花荫》

【宋】李清照

薄雾浓云愁永昼，瑞脑销金兽。

佳节又重阳，玉枕纱橱，半夜凉初透。

东篱把酒黄昏后，有暗香盈袖。

莫道不销魂，帘卷西风，人比黄花瘦！

To the Tune of Intoxicated Under the Shadow of Flowers

Li Qingzhao

Light mists and heavy clouds,

melancholy the long dreary day.

In the golden censer

the burning incense is dying away.   

It is again time

for the lovely Double-Ninth Festival;

The coolness of midnight

penetrates my screen of sheer silk

and chills my pillow of jade.

After drinking wine at twilight

under the chrysanthemum hedge,

My sleeves are perfumed

by the fragrance of the plants.

Oh, I cannot say it is not endearing,

Only, when the west wind stirs the curtain,

I see that I am more gracile

then the yellow flowers.