In two weeks, China will enter Toufu, the first phase of Sanfu. In the Chinese lunar calendar, Sanfu refers to the three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year, which are called Toufu, Zhongfu and Mofu.

再过两周，中国将进入“头伏”阶段，即“三伏”的第一阶段。在中国农历中，三伏是指一年中最热的三个十天，分别是初伏/头伏、中伏和末伏。

Sanfu usually comes between mid-July to mid-August. Let's take a look at the traditional Chinese ways of spending the dog days of summer.

三伏通常在七月中旬到八月中旬之间。让我们来看看中国传统的度过三伏天的方式。

Receiving the Sanfutie贴敷三伏贴

Sanfutie, or Sanfu medicinal patch, is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that receiving Sanfutie during the hottest summer days is effective for coughs, asthma and arthritis; it is a patchwork solution for winter ills in summer.

三伏贴，又称三伏药贴，是一种由传统中药膏药制成的绷带。中医师认为，在最热的夏天贴三伏贴可有效治疗咳嗽、哮喘和关节炎；它是冬病夏治的补救措施。

The treatment is based on the TCM principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of both elements in the body is vital for good health. Sanfutie contains a paste of herbs that are "hot" in nature, and when applied to specific acupuncture points, usually on the back and neck, they replenish the yang elements.

该疗法基于中医阴阳论，认为体内阴阳平衡对身体健康至关重要。三伏贴含有一种“热性”药草糊，贴在特定穴位上时，通常位于背部和颈部，可补阳。

These patches have been used in TCM since earliest recorded times, according to Huangdi Neijing, more than 2,000 years ago, the time-tested textbook for TCM practitioners. Sanfu patch treatment became extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has enjoyed a revival in recent years as more patients turn to TCM treatment.

根据 2000 多年前的《黄帝内经》，这些贴剂自古以来就被用于中医，此书是中医从业者久经考验的教科书。三伏贴治疗在清朝（1644-1911）非常流行，近年来随着越来越多的患者转向中医疗法，三伏贴治疗又重新流行起来。

Eating dumplings during Toufu 头伏饺子

When the dog days come, people tend to lose their appetites, and jiaozi, or boiled dumplings, can refresh people's feelings toward food. Actually jiaozi is an all-time classic, with 2,000 years of history. Besides Sanfu, people eat it at Liqiu, the start of autumn, and Dongzhi, the start of winter.

伏天时，人们容易没食欲，饺子可以唤醒人们对食物的感觉。其实饺子是一道经典菜肴，已有 2000 年历史。除了三伏天，立秋和冬至也是吃饺子的日子。

Eating noodles during Zhongfu 二伏面

The second phase of Sanfu is traditionally a time for consuming noodles because it is believed to help people sweat and relieve internal heat. Some time-honored noodle restaurants around China have increased their supply and launched new products.

三伏的第二阶段传统上是吃面条的时间，因为人们认为面条可以帮助人们发汗和清内热。中国各地的一些老牌面馆增加了供应量并推出了新产品。

Eating Chinese egg pancake during Mofu 三伏烙饼摊鸡蛋

As Mofu comes, the weather turns cool, and it is easy to get cold if a person keeps eating noodles drenched in sweat. People, especially those living in North China, customarily eat the Chinese egg pancake.

到了末伏，天气转凉，汗流浃背地吃面条，很容易着凉。民间，尤其是北方人，有吃鸡蛋饼的习俗。

Eating rooster三伏吃公鸡

As the weather in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, is hot with heavy rainfall in summer, people there eat rooster during Sanfu, especially during Toufu. They believe that it can clear the damp. There is an old saying that goes "A rooster at the start of Sanfu, a healthy body the whole year.

湖南省会长沙夏季天气炎热，雨水较多，因此人们在三伏期间，尤其是头伏会吃公鸡，认为可以祛湿。有句老话叫“入伏吃只鸡，一年好身体”

Eating mutton soup 伏天喝羊汤
 

There is a custom in Southern Shandong province where people drink mutton soup during Sanfu. Many people go to local restaurants to drink mutton soup, which is called "summer mutton soup". It is believed that mutton which is hot in nature can relieve internal cold .

山东省南部有三伏时喝羊肉汤的习俗。许多人会到当地餐馆喝羊肉汤，称为“夏羊肉汤”。人们认为羊肉性温补，可以解除体内寒湿。