Guangdong observed the traditional Beginning of Autumn (立秋) on Thursday, though summer heat still grips the region. Despite the solar term's poetic name—meaning "autumn begins"—southern China remains under the "autumn tiger's" sweltering hold, a period of intense heat typically lasting through November.
While historical records describe the Beginning of Autumn as ushering in cooler days, Guangdong faces up to 40 days of residual summer heat. Temperatures often exceed 35°C, with humidity slightly easing but heatstroke risks lingering. True autumn coolness isn't expected until early November.
Across the province, food traditions anchor seasonal rhythms. Markets in Zhanjiang and Maoming now display cured meats, responding to the Lingnan proverb: "Winds rise, eat preserved meats." These smoky sausages, traditionally sustaining families through winter, cut through the humid air.
In Maoming Gaozhou's rice-growing towns, villagers celebrate Zuò Hé Le ("harvest completion") with gongs and lanterns. They share zhǔ tāng hé—plump dumplings of sticky rice filled with pork, shrimp, and vegetables—honoring the first harvest. Meizhou communities craft ciba (sweet glutinous rice cakes), symbolizing unity through their round shape.
Coastal oyster farmers time their work to the solar terms. Stones placed in tidal flats before the Beginning of Autumn collect drifting larvae during high tides. Farmers tend these oyster beds through summer, harvesting in late autumn.
Meanwhile, Shanwei's Heshun village upholds its "Beginning of Autumn Tea" tradition. Families gather to share vegetable tea—seasonal greens stir-fried and simmered into broth—celebrating summer's bounty while combating lingering heat. Elders note its role in boosting immunity during humid transitions.
True autumn may linger on the horizon, but in Maoming Gaozhou's lantern-lit villages and Shanwei's steaming teacups, the season has already taken root. Here, resilience smells of smoke-cured meats, tastes of sticky-sweet rice cakes, and sounds like tidal stones gathering oysters for winters yet to come.
Author | Feng Huiting
Editor | Huang Qini, James, Shen He
