Huan returned home quickly by riding the crane. On the morning of the ninth day, Huan led the people to the top of a nearby mountain to avoid the plague. He gave each person a piece of cornel leaf to prevent the monster from coming close. He also told each one to drink some chrysanthemum wine to prevent them from getting the plague.
Not finding any people in the villages, the plague monster dashed to the mountain foot, yet stopped in fear when it smelled the cornel and chrysanthemum.
Huan appeared and fought the monster, eventually killing it with his magic sword. Though the people were never attacked by the monster again, the tradition of ascending a height continues until today.
Many people also keep the tradition of drinking chrysanthemum tea, while a few traditionalists still drink homemade chrysanthemum wine. Mountain-climbing races are also popular on the day and winners get to wear a wreath made of zhu yu.
When one cannot reach a high place, some will eat cake instead since the pronunciation of cake, gao, in Chinese sounds the same as the word “high.” That is the origin of Chongyang cakes, a festival snack made of rice and flour.
A delicate Chongyang cake will be made into a tower-like shape with nine layers. Two sheep (yang in Chinese) are on the top to coincide with the festival name.
Mini colorful flags are inserted on the cake, symbolizing zhu yu for the day.
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