Culture Insider: 9 things you may not know about Start of Autumn

Updated: 2014-08-06 07:15

(chinadaily.com.cn)

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Autumn, (Chinese: 立秋), the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 7 and ends on Aug 23.

Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching.

In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But solar term culture is still useful today to guide people's lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips that correspond with each term.

The following are 9 things you should know about Start of Autumn.

"Autumn Tiger"

Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, usually lasting for 30 days, is called "Autumn Tiger" or "Indian Summer." Because of decreasing precipitation, it is even more sweltering during this period than during Major Heat (July 23-August 7).

Tourists seek relief from the summer heat along the seashore, Qingdao, Shandong province, August 20, 2013. [Photo by Xiao Mi/ asianewsphoto.com]