Climbing on the "Yuanjiu" day in Dazhou is a grand folk activity that has been passed down for thousands of years. Every year on the ninth day of the first lunar month, hundreds of thousands of people in Dazhou go out in the morning to climb, have a picnic in the mountains, look far into the distance, and return home at dusk. Climbing high and looking far away is not only to commemorate the sage Yuan Zhen, but also to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for blessings, hoping to sweep away the unhappiness of the past years and usher in smooth sailing in the new year. In 2009, it was included in the second batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage lists. There have always been two theories about the origin of the "Yuanjiu" climbing custom of Dazhou people: one is to commemorate the Jade Emperor. In ancient times, there was a Jade Emperor Temple on Cuiping Mountain in Dacheng. The ninth day of the first lunar month was the birthday of the Jade Emperor. On that day, Dazhou people would go up the mountain to burn incense and celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor. The other is to commemorate Yuan Zhen. According to legend, in 815 AD, Yuan Zhen (a poet in the Tang Dynasty, known as Yuan Jiu) was exiled to Tongzhou (now Dazhou) as a Sima. When he first arrived, "the place was sparsely populated and snakes and insects dominated the road." Yuan Zhen worked hard to govern the country, was honest and incorruptible, and had remarkable achievements. He did a lot of good things for the local people. On the ninth day of the first lunar month in 818 AD, Yuan Zhen left Dazhou. According to legend, on that day, the whole city came out to see him off. Yuan Zhen walked farther and farther along the Zhou River. The people climbed Cuiping Mountain to bid farewell to Yuan Zhen in tears, reluctant to leave. From then on, every ninth day of the first lunar month, the people of Dacheng would climb Cuiping Mountain to show their remembrance. Because Yuan Zhen was the ninth child, he was called Yuan Jiu, and the first month was also called Yuanyue in ancient times. The ninth day was the day Yuan Zhen left Dazhou, so it was also referred to as "Yuan Jiu". Therefore, "Yuan Jiu Climbing" became a custom that has continued for thousands of years. During the Ming, Qing and Republic of China periods, the "Yuanjiu Climbing" mainly involved climbing Cuiping Mountain on the other side of the river in Dazhou City. On the ninth day of the first lunar month every year, the people went out with their families, enjoying the spring and enjoying themselves. The literati wrote poems and painted in memory of Yuan Zhen. There were folk artists of different categories performing their skills on the mountain, and there were also local snack stalls with different characteristics, which were dazzling. After 1949, the "Yuanjiu Climbing" continued. On the ninth day of the first lunar month every year, people spontaneously flocked to Cuiping Mountain. In the early morning, the streets of Dazhou City were empty, and people were surging, carrying baskets, helping the elderly and children, laughing and talking, climbing the stairs, and it was very lively. At noon, in the green shade all over the mountains and fields, men and women, young and old, wearing purple and red, either in groups of three or five, or in groups of ninety, sat on the ground and ate, dressing up the mountains and forests with flowers and clusters, which was extremely spectacular. The grand occasion was rare in the country, and as many as hundreds of thousands of citizens climbed the mountain each time. During the Cultural Revolution, the "Yuanjiu Climbing" was once silent. In the 1980s, when reform and opening up began, the "Yuanjiu" climbing activity was transferred to Fenghuang Mountain and reached its peak. The Yuan Zhen Memorial Hall, Yuan Zhen's statue, long corridors, pavilions and other scenic spots were built on Fenghuang Mountain. In June 2006, the Standing Committee of the Dazhou Municipal People's Congress decided to establish the "Yuanjiu Climbing Festival" and designated the ninth day of the first lunar month as the Dazhou Municipal Festival, thus fixing this folk cultural custom activity that has been passed down for more than a thousand years. From February 25 to 27, 2007 (the eighth to tenth day of the first lunar month), Dazhou City held the first "Yuanjiu Climbing Festival". In 2008, the Party Committee and the Municipal Government of Dazhou City followed the will of the people and decided to make the "Yuanjiu Climbing Festival" a famous festival and name card of Dazhou City. The theme of the climbing festival was established as "climbing every year, everyone makes progress". The Yuan Zhen Memorial Hall and Yuan Zhen Square were built, and the "Six Prime Ministers Square" (commemorating the successive prime ministers who had served in different positions in Dazhou, including Yuan Zhen) was newly built. The infrastructure of Fenghuang Mountain, Huofeng Mountain, and Cuiping Mountain connected to Dacheng was improved; new scenic spots were packaged or opened up; and a variety of entertainment and fitness activities were held during the festival. The theme of climbing has also developed from a single tribute to Yuan Zhen and commemoration of Yuan Zhen to the exhibition and sale of famous snacks, the display of famous and high-quality products, the mass poetry competition, theatrical performances, advertising, investment promotion, etc. "Yuanjiu Climbing" has become a large-scale historical and cultural event and a fashion event integrating many projects such as culture, sports, tourism, and commerce, reflecting the grand scene of "Harmonious Dazhou". In 2008, the number of people who climbed Fenghuang Mountain reached an unprecedented 300,000. The citizens who climbed the mountain were not only local citizens of Dazhou. Mountaineering enthusiasts from Chongqing, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Henan, Hubei, Guizhou, Yunnan and other provinces and cities came to participate in the climbing competition, which greatly expanded the external influence of Dazhou's "Yuanjiu" Climbing Festival. The main climbing sites have long been transferred from Cuiping Mountain to Fenghuang Mountain, Huofeng Mountain, Leiyinpu, Tieshan, Longzhua Tower, Ludingzhai, etc. As long as there are mountains, there are people climbing. By 2009, the "Yuanjiu" Climbing Festival had gradually completed the transformation from spontaneous organization by the masses to government guidance and participation by the whole people. In 2011, more than 484,000 people participated in the climbing activities in the city, and more than 600,000 people participated in the climbing activities in 2012. Dazhou's "Yuanjiu" climbing, taking the great Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen as the object of commemoration, actually reflects the people's love for culture and yearning for the good governance of officials, and reflects the people's simple emotions. Yuan Zhen's poems and essays have not only attracted the admiration of generations of people in my country, but also the respect of foreign friends and scholars, which shows his long-lasting artistic vitality. Yuan Zhen and Bai Juyi's "New Yuefu" poems are realistic poems, which are very close to the people. They can be sung and recited, so they are naturally loved and have a wide influence among the people. People commemorate Yuan Zhen, which also reflects the people's love for the excellent traditional culture of ancient China and their respect for outstanding figures in history. Dazhou's "Yuanjiu" climbing also shows the remarkable characteristics of the folk customs and customs of the Ba people, who are good at singing and dancing, brave and good at fighting in eastern Sichuan. Dazhou is mountainous, and citizens can show their strength by climbing on the ninth day of the first lunar month; singing and dancing on the top of the mountain can show the joy of welcoming spring and the wishes for a good harvest. Dazhou's "Yuanjiu" climbing is the first collective outing for citizens after the Spring Festival every year. It is a spring outing activity. Often, three generations of the family go hiking and have picnics together, which reflects the atmosphere of family harmony, continues a day of festive and happy activities, and expresses the happiness of social harmony. The Phoenix Mountain where "Yuan Jiu" climbed is 800-900 meters high, which is a relatively high mountain. The citizens got close to nature, breathed fresh air, and felt the spring sunshine. The mountain climbing activity actually became a happy fitness activity.