Chongyang Festival, also known as Double Ninth Festival or Seniors' Day, falls on this Wednesday. It's the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. The Chinese population is aging fast. Official statistics show that people over 60 reached 240 million at the end of 2017, accounting for 17.3 percent of the nation's total population.

Despite surpassing their retirement age, an increasing number of the aging population has chosen to stick to their positions. Here's a glimpse of the elderly who decided to stick it out. Wu Mengchao, 96, world-famous Chinese hepatobiliary surgeon, conducts a surgery in Xuzhou No.1 People’s Hospital in East China’s Jiangsu Province on April 13, 2018.

Gao Shirong, 75, teaches kindergarten kids in a village in Wushan County, Gansu Province, on September 26, 2017. He has taught for 38 years.

Li Yuzhen, 105, operates her camera in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 2, 2017. She started to learn photography at age of 41 and has been a photographer for a photo studio in the town.

Cai Duanyun, 82, cuts the hair of a customer on September 3, 2018, in Xuchang, Central China’s Henan Province. The 2-yuan price per haircut at her barbershop has remained unchanged for more than 10 years.

Chen Yuqing, 75, mends a watch on December 7, 2017. He has been mending watches for more than 6o years in Anyang, Central China’s Henan Province.

Han Wenxin, 67, helps ferry villagers across a river in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, on July 29, 2014. He has insisted on the job for 56 years.

Yue Mingchao, 73, teaches community fellows Yoga for free in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, on March 15, 2017.

Liu Fengming, 70, does make-up for her opera performances on March 10, 2016. She has started to learn it when she was 10 years old. (Photos: VCG)