In advance of the upcoming Double Ninth Festival, a birthday party was held on Oct. 8 for five centenarians in Xiaoxi Village in Quannan County, Jiangxi province. Quannan, known for its superb natural environment, is hailed as a "longevity town." It is home to 4,293 people over 80, accounting for 2.2 percent of the county's total population.
The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the "Chong-yang festival", is a traditional Chinese festival which falls on the 9th day of the 9th month of the lunar calendar. It is also a time to show filial piety to the aged according to Chinese custom.