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Published Time:

Aug 23,2025


Summary

The Chushu solar term, also called the End of Heat, usually starts between August 22 and 24 on the Gregorian calendar. This year, it falls on August 23. The character "chu" (处) means "to end," while "shu" (暑) signifies the intense heat of midsummer.  

Together, they capture the essence of the solar term: "The heat stops here." The End of Heat signals the start of summer's transition into autumn. However, the summer heat lingers during the day. It is also when, in most parts of China, rainfall eases and the air becomes drier.

Humans have long celebrated this season with folk traditions evolving worldwide. Chinese customs include eating duck, which is believed to help counteract autumn dryness. This is a practical way of adapting to seasonal changes, grounded in ancient wisdom.

Around this late summer time, the intense heat finally starts fading. You can feel cooler breezes, especially in the mornings and evenings, though days can still be warm. The sky often looks higher, clearer, and bluer. Rainfall might become more frequent, helping to ease the dry, hot conditions from earlier in the summer. Nature signals a shift away from the peak of summer heat.
This cooling period is crucial for farmers. They are busy protecting ripening rice and grains from sudden heavy rain or early autumn pests. It’s also the perfect time to plant fast-growing vegetables like cabbage and spinach for the autumn harvest. The change in weather signals that the main summer harvest season is ending, and preparations for autumn crops are underway. This period helps crops finish growing well before the colder weather arrives.

Particularly near rivers or lakes, people make small lotus-shaped lanterns (often from paper or wood) with candles inside and set them afloat on the water. This beautiful custom is done to honor ancestors, pray for blessings (like safety from floods), and symbolically guide spirits or say goodbye to the summer ghosts (as per folk beliefs linking ghosts to summer).

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