Generally, when Hanlu (literal means Cold Dew, the 17th term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, which is a supplementary system in the Chinese calendar to guide farm work.) comes, the weather turns dry in northern China. While in southern regions, the autumn rain fell day after day without ceasing, with air getting colder and wetter. As with climate change, customs of Hanlu vary from region to region in China.
Enjoying Red Leaves
During the period of Hanlu, enjoying red leaves on Fragrant Hills has already become a traditional custom of Beijing citizens and a highlight of autumn outing. The soughing autumn wind dyes the leaves yellow and red. As Beijing gets colder after the Hanlu falls on, maple leaves all turn crimson. In the golden autumn, the Fragrant Hills is dressed in maple-leaf red, which looks like sunset clouds, poetic and picturesque and as splendid as brocade.
Eating Sesame
The Hanlu means a transitional period between cool and cold days. According to the traditional Chinese health-preserving theory, “maintaining Yang in spring and summer and nourishing Yin in autumn and winter”, people should eat nourishing food to strengthen lung and stomach and relieve the autumn dryness. Consequently, it has become a folk custom to “eat sesame on Hanlu days”. In Beijing, sesame-related products have become the rage around the Hanlu period, such as sesame cakes, sesame mung bean cakes, and baked sesame-seed cakes.
Preventing Frost Damage
Around Hanlu period, with lower air temperature, the dew on the ground is colder and almost condenses into frost, and farmers should prevent freezing damages since crops are too tender to stand cold winds.
Go Fishing in Shoal Waters
Given that the sunlight on days in Hanlu period is weaker than that in summertime, making the deep water area low-temperature, fish and crabs have to swim to warmer shallow water areas, thus creating the best time for fishing near the water.
Climbing
During Hanlu period, frosts often occur in many regions. The North presents its beauty of late autumn with white clouds and red leaves, and the south is also in the autumn season that cicadas keep silent and lotus flowers gradually wither. As a result, the custom to climb and admire autumn views has come into being.
Eating Pears
With health-care effects like moistening the lungs, relieving cough, clearing heat and decreasing internal heat, pears are considered as the most nourishing fruit in Hanlu period and will go on the market in a large amount. It can be eaten directly, stewed, simmered, or made into fruit juice. In addition to the sweet and palatable taste, it has a beneficial therapeutic effect on lung heat and cough.
Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine
Hanlu is close to the Double Ninth Festival during which chrysanthemums are in full bloom. In addition to relieving the autumn dryness, it had formed a custom in some areas to drink “chrysanthemum wine”, like climbing which has gradually become the custom in the Double Ninth Festival. Chrysanthemum wine, called the “longevity wine” in ancient times, is made from chrysanthemums, glutinous rice, and distiller’s yeast.
