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Major Heat is coming, how to beat summer heat for coolness

24 Solar Terms: 7 things you may not know about Major Heat

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Heat, (Chinese: 大暑), the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on July 22 and ends August 6.

During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year.

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 7 things you should know about Major Heat.


Peasants pull up and transplant rice seedlings in Wenling, Zhejiang province, August 2, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

A season of harvesting and planting

During Major Heat, the sunshine, high temperatures, and heavy rainfall are good for agricultural crops. But like Minor Heat, many natural calamities such as floods, droughts and typhoons also happen during Major Heat. Therefore, it’s important to harvest and plant in time to avoid setbacks caused by natural disasters.

Sending the Major Heat ship

Sending the Major Heat ship is a folk tradition spanning hundreds of years in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

The ship is filled with various animals for sacrifice such as pigs, sheep, chicken, fish, and shrimps. More than 50 fish ermen take turns carrying the ship as they march through the streets. Drums are played and fireworks are lit. Both sides of the street are filled with people praying for blessings.

After a series of ceremonies, the ship is finally carried to the wharf. Then, the ship is pulled out of the fishing port and burned at sea. People carry out this ritual to pray for good harvests and health.


Two crickets fight at a cricket fighting contest in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cricket fighting

Major Heat is a season with the largest number of crickets that can be found in the fields along the countryside. Cricket fighting is a popular pastime for some people in China during this period. The custom dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).


Litchi is a nutritious fruit containing glucose and vitamins. [File photo]

Eating litchi and mizao

On the day of Major Heat, there is a custom of eating litchi, Mizao in Putian, Fujian province, as a celebration of Major Heat.

Litchi is a nutritious fruit containing glucose and vitamins. People usually soak litchi in cold well water first and eat it. It is said that litchi during Major Heat is as nourishing as ginseng.

Mizao is made of fermented rice. On the day of Major Heat, people cook them with brown sugar. It can reinforce the vital energy of the human body.


During the period of Major Heat, pineapple tastes best. [File photo]

Eating pineapples

There is a saying in Taiwan which goes, "eating pineapples in Major Heat." During the period of Major Heat, pineapple tastes best.

Drinking mutton soup

There is a custom in southern Shandong province where people drink mutton soup on the day of Major Heat. Many people go to local restaurants to drink mutton soup, which is called "summer mutton soup."


Grass jelly with milk, beans and taro ball, a traditional Taiwan dessert made of taro. [File photo]

Eating grass jelly

Grass jelly, "Xiancaodong" in Chinese, is made with a special grass whose stems and leaves can be made into herb jelly after being dried in the sun.

With the amazing ability to quell the summer heat, grass jelly is described in a popular saying in Guangdong province that goes, "eating herb jelly in Major Heat will make you stay young like the immortals."

The herb jelly looks and tastes like another jelly-like Guilinggao, or called Turtle Jelly, but without the bitter taste!


Major Heat, or Da Shu in Chinese, is the 12th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, illustrating half a year have passed. It starts on July 22 this year. During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year.

Knowing ways to cool down yourself is very important!

1. Food to eat

Grass jelly, or "Xiancao" in Chinese, is a jelly-like dessert in south part of China. Grass jelly comes from Mint plant family. It tastes a little bit bitter, so it is typically served chilled with other toppings, such as fruits, or in drinks. (Photo source: Xinhua)


In southeast China's Fujian Province, a custom of eating litchi is a celebration of Major Heat. Litchi is a very nutritious fruit with high water content and high level of vitamin. (Photo source: Xinhua)


In east China's Shandong Province, having mutton soup on Major Heat is a famous custom. Why people eat such a hot dish on Major Heat? In fact, traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating mutton soup in hot weather can help toxin discharging of human body by sweating. (Photo source: Xinhua)


2. Have some drinks

Drink water is always one of the best ways to replenish lost water in your body!

Citizens buy cold drinks in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 15, 2017. As the maximum temperature in Shenyang reached 40 degrees Celsius, Liaoning provincial weather station launched a heat wave warning on Thursday. (Xinhua/Long Lei)


Tea and green bean soup are good for cooling down in summer.

Qiuju, a tea art specialist, performs at a teahouse in Suining, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 16, 2017. Despite the sweltering weather across many parts of the country, outdoor work does not stop. The central government ensures the rights of workers in the heat. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has issued a directive prompting employers to reduce work time and workload during times of high temperatures. (Xinhua/Zhong Min)


A father (1st L) of an examinee of the national college entrance examination takes green bean soup outside the exam venue at No. 10 High School in Hefei City, capital of east China's Anhui Province, June 7, 2017. A total of 9.4 million Chinese students sit the annual national college entrance examination from Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)


3. Have some fun

Activities with water are always the No.1 choice in summer!

A boy runs in fountains in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Long Lei)


People play with water at the Jinluanwan Bay of Dongshan County in southeast China's Fujian Province July 13, 2017. Summer heat has driven people to the seaside to enjoy the coolness in Dongshan County. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)


Reading while floating! People cool themselves off in water during summer days in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.(Xinhua)


A boy enjoys coolness beside a mist cooling system at the Bund in Shanghai, east China, July 17, 2017. Mist cooling systems were used to bring coolness to visitors in Shanghai on Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Qian)


4. Don't forget your daily “weapons” against sun-damage!

Motor riders cover themselves with kerchief against heat in Bhopal, capital of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, April 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Stringer)


Tourists are seen covering heads with clothes at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2016. The highest temperature reached 31 degrees Celsius in Beijing Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Wen)


Citizens walk in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 15, 2017. As the maximum temperature in Shenyang reached 40 degrees Celsius, Liaoning provincial weather station launched a heat wave warning on Thursday. (Xinhua/Long Lei)


Children visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2016. The highest temperature reached 31 degrees Celsius in Beijing Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Wen)


Not only people need to cool down in hot weather, animals too!

A police dog plays in the pool to cool down in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality July 19, 2017. Trainers use different methods to beat the heat for police dogs in Chongqing. (Xinhua/Cao Feng)


Monkeys enjoy cool mist at a zoo in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 16, 2017. As hot weather continued, staff members of Quanzhou Wildlife Zoo offered watermelon, fans or air conditioners for animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiuqiang)


A monkey eats watermelon at a zoo in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 16, 2017. As hot weather continued, staff members of Quanzhou Wildlife Zoo offered watermelon, fans or air conditioners for animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiuqiang)


Photo taken on July 18, 2017 shows a panda holding ice cubes for coolness in Chongqing Zoo, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The hot weather has been lasted in Chongqing for days recently, and Chongqing Zoo took various measures to cool down animals according to their different life and dietary habits. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)


Photo taken on July 17, 2017 shows a monkey swimming in Hongshan Forest Zoo, Nanjing City, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. The Meteorological Observatory of Jiangsu issued a yellow level heat warning on Monday, which expects that the temperature of most areas in Jiangsu will rise over 37 degree Celsius on July 17 and 18. The Hongshan Forest Zoo has took measures to keep the animals cool. (Xinhua/Feng Xiao)


Go to an ice park is such a cool choice!

Kids slide in an ice park of Zhengzhou City, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 24, 2017. The hot weather has been lasting in most areas of Henan after entering the canicular days. Many citizens of Zhengzhou came to the ice park for enjoying the coolness. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)


Children practice skating at an ice arena on the sweltering hot day in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)


People play on an ice arena on the sweltering hot day in Laibin City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 19, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country. (Xinhua/Fan Shaoguang)


Reading in a library is always relaxed and informative.

Two readers select books at the library in Xinle City of Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, July 23, 2017. Many people come to library to enjoy coolness while reading in Shijiazhuang. (Xinhua/Pu Dongfeng)


People read at the library in Xinle City of Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, July 23, 2017. Many people come to library to enjoy coolness while reading in Shijiazhuang. (Xinhua/Pu Dongfeng)


How can you say no to playing with water?

Children play with water to beat the heat with their parents at Hongqiaofang in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)


Children play with water to beat the heat with their parents at Hongqiaofang in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)


People experience water cycling in Qianjiang City, central China's Hubei Province, July 20, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Yanjun)


 

Students swim in a swimming pool of a fitness center in Zigui, central China's Hubei Province, July 20, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country. (Xinhua/Wang Huifu)


 

A man cools himself before swimming in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, July 20, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country.(Xinhua/Yang Xiaoyuan)


People bath in water with high amount of salt at a resort in Dalian, coastal city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 18, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country.(Xinhua/Piao Feng)


Tourists enjoy "sand bath" by the sea in Weitou Village of Jinjiang City, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 19, 2017. People find various ways cooling off themselves amid hot weather across the country. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiuqiang)


A boy plays with a water gun in the Huanglongxi ancient town on the outskirts of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 19, 2017. The sweltering heat has driven people to Huanglongxi to enjoy coolness. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)


People play with water in the Huanglongxi ancient town on the outskirts of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 19, 2017. The sweltering heat has driven people to Huanglongxi to enjoy coolness. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)


A boy plays with a water gun in the Huanglongxi ancient town on the outskirts of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 19, 2017. The sweltering heat has driven people to Huanglongxi to enjoy coolness. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)


People play with water in the Huanglongxi ancient town on the outskirts of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 19, 2017. The sweltering heat has driven people to Huanglongxi to enjoy coolness. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)


People practice Taekwondo at the Wanqing gorge in Shaba Township in the Qianjiang District of Chongqing, southwest China, July 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Yang Min)


People practice Taekwondo at the Wanqing gorge in Shaba Township in the Qianjiang District of Chongqing, southwest China, July 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Yang Min)


A mother plays water with her kid in Jinluan Bay Scenic Spot in Dongshan County, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)


Kids play water at a water park in suburban area of Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)


A mother and her son play water near the Chaotianmen Wharf in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)


Citizens have fun in Aqiuwan Water Park in Hefei City, capital of east China's Anhui Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)


A kid plays in the children slide of Aqiuwan Water Park in Hefei City, capital of east China's Anhui Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)


Citizens pass by a square fountain in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Gang)


Tourists play in Puzhehei National Wetland Park in Qiubei County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Pu Chao)

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