Cold Dew, or Hanlu, is the 17th solar term, beginning around October 8th and concluding around October 23rd, when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195°. It marks the deepening of autumn’s chill, when dew grows cold enough to condense more heavily and the world tilts further toward the darker half of the year. Though the sun still offers warmth at midday, the mornings and evenings turn distinctly cold, and the air grows sharper as northern winds carry the scent of falling leaves and ripening late crops.
Agriculturally, Hanlu is a season of harvest and preparation in equal measure. In the Yellow River basin, cotton is picked and winter wheat is sown, while sweet potatoes and late corn await the final days of gathering. In the Yangtze River region, fields hum with the busy rhythm of “cold dew wind,” as late rice ripens under cooler skies and farmers rush to bring in the harvest before the first frost. Beyond the fields, Hanlu is also a time for enjoying chrysanthemums, drinking autumn tea, and eating sesame and other warming foods to nourish the body against the coming cold.
By Yuan Ruichen/ Zhang Yishuo
