One of China's main traditional events, the Double Ninth Festival, is just a week away, and a pre－festival celebration was held at Yuquan Park in Beijing on the morning of September 26 to get people in the mood. Traditionally a festival for the elderly, organizers hope it will be double the fun this autumn, as this year's Double Ninth will fall during the week－long National Day Holiday.

Shijingshan District was the venue of the Double Ninth Festival celebrations for the third time, and for the third time the celebrations got under way in heavy rain. But people were still as enthusiastic as ever.

With the theme of "Health, Environment, and Development", this year's Double Ninth Festival will see a variety of activities, such as a Happy Tour in Shijingshan Amusement Park, the Eight－Temple Mountain Garden Festival and an Environmentally Friendly Sculpture Exhibition. But as the organizers explained, the festivities are not just meant to be fun.

Liu Chunfeng, deputy chief of Beijing's Shijingshan District, said:"The festival celebration activities will give people many chances to enjoy a golden autumn holiday. And more importantly, it is an excellent way to show the outside world a healthy and rapidly developing Shijingshan District."

Another important activity that will be held during the festivities will be the opening of the western part of the International Modern Sculpture Park. Beijing residents will soon be able to feast their eyes on outstanding sculptures from around the world.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, this year's Double Ninth Festival falls on October 4 and the celebrations will last until October 19.
 
(CCTV.com September 27, 2003)