Climbing mountains is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival. Nine is an extreme number; the sun is nine. The sun and moon meet nine times. Therefore, every year on September 9th is the Double Ninth Festival. Climbing to high places, praying for blessings, enjoying chrysanthemums, wearing dogwood, worshipping gods, ancestor worship, and feasting are all customs of the Double Ninth Festival.
In ancient times, people also lived with the Double Ninth Festival, and naturally, they would climb and pray for protection. However, the climbing associated with the Double Ninth Festival has nothing to do with today's climbing competition.
