23th Aug is End of Heat, the 14th China solar term of the year, and the second in autumn. End of Heat, or Chu Shu (处暑), begins on Aug 23 and ends on Sep 6 this year.
End of Heat implies that most parts of China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn. But in some areas, especially in South China, autumn is late in coming and people are still bothered by hot weather. End of Heat is also the busy harvest season for farmers.
It’s advisable to have light foods in autumn and lotus roots will never be absent from the local dining table. Both lotus root soup and sautéed lotus roots are very tasteful, and their effect on cleansing lungs is definitely a plus. Besides, aquatic products such as water caltrops, shrimps, and freshwater fish are also very popular with residents in canal cities.
According to Chinese traditional medicine, duck is a kind of cooling food (yin by nature), which is said to be beneficial for our skin and helpful for clearing excess heat from our bodies.
Customarily, Suzhou locals will eat duck meat during the period of End of Heat. There are quite many recipes for cooking duck including roast duck, braised duck with brown sauce, duck soup with ginger and mushroom, etc.
As the weather cools during and after End of Heat, many people might feel weary. Chinese people often call it “autumn weariness”, which means that your body needs rest. It’s a good choice to have a nap after lunch to give yourself an energy boost in the afternoon.