24 Solar Terms: 8 things you may not know about Cold Dew

　　关于寒露，你可能不知道的8个小知识

　　The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Cold Dew, (Chinese: 寒露), the 17th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 8 and ends on Oct 23.

　　传统中国农历将一年分成了24个节气,寒露是其中的第17个节气，今年从10月8日开始，10月23日结束。

　　At this time, temperatures are much lower than in White Dew in most areas of China. The dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe.

　　寒露到来，中国大多数地区的气温会比白露时的温度下降很多。雾气越发浓重和寒冷，降水量减少，农作物也趋于成熟。

　　Here are eight things you should know about Cold Dew.

　　以下就是关于寒露你需要了解的8个小知识。

　　Foggy autumn

　　雾秋来临

　　Temperatures drop significantly in October. When the cold air encounters autumn rain, the abundant water vapor in the air soon reaches saturation, and then it turns into misty rain or fog. When the humidity is high, there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China.

　　十月份常伴随着强降温。当冷空气遇到秋雨时，丰富的水汽很快达到饱和状态，随之变为蒙蒙烟雨或潮湿的雾气。湿度达到了一定高度，全国各地就会出现大范围多雾天气。

　　Season for fishing

　　秋钓当时

　　People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn does make sense. That’s because during the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine cannot reach the deep water thoroughly. Fish all swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high.

　　人们都说，秋季钓鱼找浅水。因为在寒露季节，温度下降快，日照无法充足地照射到深水区，所以鱼儿都喜欢到温度相对较高的近岸浅水区活动。

　　Season for eating pomegranates

　　石榴成熟时

　　Pomegranates are ripe during Cold Dew. Pomegranates have been cherished for their exquisite beauty, flavor, color, and health benefits for centuries.

　　石榴在寒露时期成熟。几世纪以来，石榴因其精致饱满的色泽，甜美多汁的风味和较高的营养价值而广受人们的喜爱。

　　Season for drinking chrysanthemum wine

　　饮菊花酒

　　Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival (on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar), which often falls around Cold Dew. According to ancient records, drinking the wine made with chrysanthemums, poria cocos and pine oleoresin grants people long lasting youth.

　　菊花迎寒露。为了缓解秋季带来的干燥，中国很多地区都形成了喝菊花酒的习俗。中国的重阳节(农历九月初九)常常在寒露前后，因此喝菊花酒也成为了重阳节的传统内容。根据历史记载，经常喝菊花、茯苓和松脂酿制的酒，会起到延年益寿的功效。

　　Season for eating hawthorns

　　山楂成熟季

　　There is a saying that goes "It is time to harvest hawthorn during Cold Dew." Extracts of the berries have long been used in herbal medicine. The antioxidants in hawthorn are thought to boost heart health by strengthening blood vessels and stimulating blood flow.

　　农谚道：寒露收山楂。浆果的提取物长期以来都被用来制作中草药，而山楂中的抗氧化剂可以通过强化血管，刺激血液流动，来保护心脏健康。

　　A great time for hiking

　　登高望远时

　　During Cold Dew, North China takes on a look of late autumn with white clouds, red leaves and early frost. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant. This custom aims to dispel evils, and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220).

　　寒露时节，中国北方常常是蓝天白云，霜天红叶。重阳节那天，人们经常去爬长有黄杨木的山，以此来驱邪避恶。这个传统习俗最早可以追溯到东汉时期(公元25到220年)。

　　Season for making kippers

　　腌鱼好时节

　　People of the Dong ethnic group in western Hunan province have the custom of making kippers during Cold Dew. It is said that the kipper made on the day of the Cold Dew with accessory foods such as rice wine, salt, glutinous rice, pepper powder, paprika powder and ginger are especially delicious.

　　在寒露时节制腌鱼是湖南侗家人的习俗。据说在寒露到来的那天，将腌鱼配以黄酒、盐、糯米、辣椒粉、花椒粉和生姜制作，味道会非常鲜美。

　　Season for picking camellia seeds

　　采摘山茶籽

　　Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. People are not allowed to go to the mountains to pick the seeds until Cold Dew comes around.

　　湖南省南部是生产茶籽油的著名区域。只有到了寒露季节，人们才能去山上采摘山茶花籽。

　　来源:China Daily