The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Cold Dew, the 17th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 8 and ends on Oct 23.

中国传统二十四节气的第17个节气是寒露，今年的寒露从10月8日开始，10月23日结束。

At this time, temperatures are much lower than during White Dew in most areas of China. The dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe.

寒露期间，中国大部分地区的气温会大幅降低。露水增多，气温更低，雨水减少。秋季作物即将成熟。

Here are eight things you should know about Cold Dew.

一起来了解一下关于寒露的8个小常识。

雾深露重Foggy autumn

Temperatures drop significantly in October. When the cold air encounters autumn rain, the abundant water vapor in the air soon reaches saturation, and then it turns into misty rain or fog. When the humidity is high, there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China.

十月份气温会显著下降。冷空气来袭，下起秋雨时，空气中丰沛的水汽很快达到饱和，将出现雨雾混合或者雨后大雾现象。湿度高时，中国的许多地区都将会出现白雾蒙蒙的景象。

捕鱼季Season for fishing

People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn makes sense. That's because during the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine doesn't reach deep water thoroughly. Fish swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high.

人们总说，秋天在浅水才能钓到鱼。这是因为在寒露时节，气温迅速下降，阳光无法穿透深水区。这时候鱼儿就要游到水温相对较高的浅水区。

吃石榴Season for eating pomegranates

Pomegranates are ripe during Cold Dew. Pomegranates have been cherished for their exquisite beauty, flavor, color, and health benefits for centuries.

寒露时节石榴熟了。数百年来石榴一直凭借丰美的果实、甘甜的味道、绚丽的颜色和极佳的养生功效而被人们所珍爱。

饮菊花酒Season for drinking chrysanthemum wine

Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival (on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar), which often falls around Cold Dew. According to ancient records, drinking wine made with chrysanthemums, poria cocos mushroom and pine oleoresin grants people longlasting youth.

菊花是寒露的代表花卉。为了防止秋燥，中国很多地区都有饮用菊花酒的习俗。这是重阳节的一种传统，重阳节通常在寒露前后。据古书记载，饮用菊花、茯苓菇和松脂制成的这种酒可以让人青春永驻。

吃山楂Season for eating hawthorns

There is a saying that goes "It is time to harvest hawthorn during Cold Dew." Extracts of the berries have long been used in herbal medicine. The antioxidants in hawthorn are thought to boost heart health by strengthening blood vessels and stimulating blood flow.

民间俗语云：“寒露收山楂”。很久以前，山楂提取物就被用在草药中。山楂中的抗氧化成分据认为能够活血通络，促进心脏健康。

远足A great time for hiking

During Cold Dew, North China takes on a look of late autumn with white clouds, red leaves and early frost. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant. This custom aims to dispel evils, and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220).

随着寒露的到来，中国的北方呈现出深秋景象，白云红叶，偶见早霜。在重阳节这天，人们往往会带着茱萸去爬山。这一习俗起源于东汉时期，旨在辟邪消灾。

做腌鱼Season for making kippers

People of the Dong ethnic group in western Hunan province have the custom of making kippers during Cold Dew. It is said that kippers made on the day of Cold Dew with accessory foods, such as rice wine, salt, glutinous rice, pepper powder, paprika powder and ginger, are especially delicious.

湖南西部的侗族人有在寒露时节做腌鱼的习俗。据说在寒露到来的那天，将腌鱼配以黄酒、盐、糯米、辣椒粉、花椒粉和生姜制作，味道会非常鲜美。

采摘油茶籽Season for picking camellia seeds

Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. People are not allowed to go to the mountains to pick the seeds until Cold Dew comes around.

湖南南部是油茶籽的著名产区。直到寒露时节人们才被允许进山采摘油茶籽。