Xianju county in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, hosts a banquet for around 500 senior citizens at a community cultural center on the eve of the traditional Chongyang Festival. [Photo/IC]

Xianju county in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, hosted a special banquet for around 500 senior citizens at a community cultural center on the eve of the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, which falls on Oct 25 this year.

Chongyang Festival is a time when most Chinese peopleshow respect for their elders.

The elderly invited to the banquet were served traditional "longevity noodles", a dish commonly served on Chinese people's birthdays. Chinese people believe that the longer the noodle, the more likely the person is to live a long and healthy life.