31/08/2026
Summer ends on the calendar, but not quite in Chinese tradition! ☀️🍂
Today, August 31, marks the last day of meteorological summer. In the traditional Chinese calendar, however, we are in 处暑 (Chǔshǔ) — one of China’s 24 solar terms, meaning “the end of summer heat.” In 2026, it lasts from August 23 to September 6.
🌿 处暑 is a beautiful transition: the intense heat gradually retreats, the air begins to change, and autumn quietly approaches.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this seasonal shift is also a time to adjust our habits. Autumn is traditionally associated with the Lung system (肺) and dryness (燥), inspiring the principle 养肺润燥 — nourishing the Lung system and counteracting seasonal dryness.
🍐 Traditional seasonal foods include pears, lily bulbs, tremella, lotus root, sesame and honey, while good sleep and a gentler rhythm are encouraged as the body adapts to the new season.
There is even a traditional expression for that sleepy feeling as summer ends: 秋乏 (qiū fá) — “autumn fatigue.” 😴🍁
In Chinese tradition, 处暑 isn’t simply the end of summer — it’s a reminder to slow down, nourish yourself and prepare for autumn.
#处暑
