Guangzhou welcomes start of Cold Dew

Cold Dew, the 17th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar, starts on Oct. 8 this year. Cold Dew season gets its name from the dew which is about to become frost as the weather begins to get chilly. 

Compared with the Autumn Equinox, the temperature across the country during Cold Dew significantly drops and, during this period, most parts of northern China welcome autumn. Also, there will be less rain. 

With cold waves bringing down the temperature, people in Guangzhou can also feel a bit of the chill of autumn these few days. The city may not have four distinctive seasons, but autumn has found its way into Guangzhou. 

Click the poem below to find out where to see red maple leaves in Guangzhou

Chrysanthemums are the iconic flowers of Cold Dew. 

Click to find out where to see chrysanthemum in Guangzhou

What activities will people have during the Cold Dew period?

Go hiking

People go hiking. This is one tradition in the Double Ninth Festival (on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar), which often falls around Cold Dew. In the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant. This custom aims to dispel evil forces, and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220).

Go fishing

They also go fishing. During the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine cannot reach the deep water thoroughly. Therefore, fishes will all swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high. This is the reason why people always say fishing in shallow water during the autumn does make sense.