The Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival devoted to showing respect, love, and support for the elderly. The festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth Chinese lunar month every year. In 2024, it falls on Friday, Oct 11.

Eating Chongyang Cakes is a cultural and symbolic tradition that aligns perfectly with the spirit of the festival. This cake represents longevity, respect for the elderly, and the joy of celebrating the autumn season, making it an essential part of the festivities during this special holiday.

In Qingpu district, Chongyang Cakes are made from sticky rice, white sugar, black sesame, red dates, and green-red julienned orange peel. Making the cakes isn't very complex, yet it demands time and dedication for perfection. Grinding, mixing, sifting, weighing, and molding are all crucial steps for an exquisite taste, leaving no space for any error.

For visitors who want to try the treat in Shanghai, time-honored brands in Shanghai such as Shen Da Cheng and Sunya Cantonese Restaurant offer not only traditional options but also innovative ones.

This year, Shen Da Cheng offers five Chongyang Cakes: candied fruit, shredded coconut, black sesame, wuren (a mixture of five different nuts), and a new wine-coffee blend. They undergo 13 processes for a sticky and chewy texture.

Sunya Cantonese Restaurant presents handmade Chongyang Cakes made with seasonal gorgon fruit and red currant rice flour paste. Also, a five-color variety features a soft pastry layered with red yeast rice powder, matcha powder, bean paste, and nuts for a rich, sticky, yet light treat.

If you go

Shen Da Cheng

Open from 8 am to 10 pm daily

Location: No 636 East Nanjing Road

Sunya Cantonese Restaurant

Open: 7:30 am - 10 am; 11 am - 1:30 pm; 2 pm - 4 pm; 5 pm - 8:30 pm daily

Location: No 719 East Nanjing Road

Sources: chinadaily.com.cn, WeChat account of the Information Office of Qingpu District at "iloveqingpu", WeChat account of Publicity Administration of Huangpu District at "shhhuangpu"