Ushering in the season marked by the proverb "After White Dew and Autumn Equinox nights, each night grows cooler," the sun reached the celestial longitude of 165 degrees at 5:53 AM Beijing time on September 7th. This astronomical event signals the arrival of the third solar term of autumn, White Dew, which signifies the conclusion of early autumn and the commencement of mid-autumn. With the saying "each White Dew brings a touch of frost," this period is characterized by the year's most significant temperature swings between day and night, as lingering heat dissipates and cooler weather sets in, causing dew to congeal.

Drawing from the ancient Chinese philosophy of matching the four seasons with the five elements, autumn is associated with the element of metal and the color white, which is used to describe the autumn dew, hence the evocative name "White Dew." This seasonal transition has long inspired poets, with the Classic of Poetry describing "reeds luxuriant and green, white dew transformed into frost," while Zhong Shu wrote of "white dew gathering the remnants of the moon, and clear winds scattering morning clouds." Du Fu's famous line, "Dew turns to frost from tonight's white, the moon is brighter in my hometown," also captures the subtle chill that permeates poetry associated with this time of year.

The White Dew period is divided into three distinct phases: the first phase when wild geese begin their southward migration in search of warmth, the second when swallows return to their southern nests, and the third when various birds start storing provisions, preparing for the winter months ahead. Ancient people held a deep appreciation for dew, giving rise to the folk custom of "collecting clear dew" during this solar term. On the morning of White Dew, people would gather dew drops from flower petals and plants, allowing them to settle before using the water to brighten their eyes, brew tea, or prepare wine.

Folk wisdom advises that "during White Dew, do not expose your body; during Cold Dew, do not expose your feet," emphasizing the need to begin dressing warmly after this period to protect against the cold. For the elderly, weak, and those with fragile constitutions, excessive "autumn hardening" — a practice of deliberately embracing cooler temperatures — is not recommended at this stage. As people often experience the dryness of autumn during White Dew, with symptoms such as dry mouth, lips, nose, and throat, it is advisable to consume nutritious, easily digestible tonics. As dew turns to frost and autumn deepens, may you reap a bountiful harvest of health and happiness in this golden season.

This feature was produced by the AI Guiyang Studio, with planning, copywriting, and graphics by Song Dezheng, and images generated by artificial intelligence.