The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. End of Heat, the 14th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 22 and ends on Sept 6.
中国传统二十四节气的第14个节气是处暑，今年的处暑从8月22日开始，9月6日结束。
End of Heat implies that most parts in 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.
处暑的到来意味着中国大部分地区即将结束炎夏，进入秋季。但是在部分地区，尤其是在南方地区，秋季来得较迟，人们依然要忍受酷热的天气。处暑也是农民忙秋收的时节。
The following are six things you should know about End of Heat.
一起来了解一下关于处暑的6个小常识。
Enjoying fall colors in early September欣赏早秋的绚烂景色
In China, regions beyond the Great Wall will enter autumn in early September. People can enjoy the scenery as it changes gradually from summer to autumn.
在中国，长城以北地区会在9月初进入秋季。人们可以欣赏自夏入秋逐渐变化的景色。
Autumn weariness秋乏
There is a saying that, "People tend to feel sleepy in spring, doze in summer and feel tired in autumn." As the weather becomes cool during End of Heat, many people will feel languid and weary, which is called "autumn weariness". It is a sign that the human body needs rest, since people have consumed excessive energy in the summer. Get enough sleep, do more exercises and keep plants indoor to help.
俗话说：“春困秋乏夏打盹。”处暑期间，天气日渐凉爽，许多人会觉得慵懒疲倦，这种现象被称为“秋乏”。这是人体需要休息的迹象，因为人们在夏天消耗了过多的能量。睡眠充足、多做运动、在室内摆放植物都有助于缓解秋乏。
Enjoying clouds赏云
When the End of Heat comes, summer heat is gone. Clouds in the sky scatter around forming different shapes. There is a saying that goes, "Enjoying the clouds of various forms in July and August (lunar month)."
处暑至，暑气散。飘散在天上的云朵会形成各种不同的形状。正所谓：“（农历）七月八月看巧云。”
Time for night-blooming cereus夜来昙花现
The night-blooming cereus is a flower full of mystery, which often blooms during the period of End of Heat. This is because the climate during End of Heat, characterized by warm days and cold nights, is similar to tropical deserts. Night-blooming cereus originates in the tropical deserts from Mexico to Brazil in South America. They blossom at night to avoid the blazing daytime sun.
昙花是一种充满神秘色彩的花，往往在处暑时节盛开。这是因为处暑期间昼暖夜凉，与热带沙漠气候相似。昙花原产于南美洲的墨西哥、巴西等地的热带沙漠，它们在夜间盛放是为了避开白天灼热的阳光。
Eating Duck吃鸭子
Duck has a sweet flavor and according to Chinese traditional medicine it has a "cool" nature. A folk tradition is to eat duck during the End of Heat period. There are many recipes for cooking duck such as roast duck, cooked duck with lemon, smoked duck and sautéed duck with ginger shoots. The tradition of eating duck during the End of Heat period is still popular in China.
据传统中医记载，鸭子味甘性凉。民间有处暑吃鸭子的传统。鸭子有多种烹饪方法，例如烤鸭、柠檬鸭、樟茶鸭和子姜鸭等。处暑吃鸭子的习俗至今在中国依然十分流行。
The Fishing Season Festival开渔节
For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest. During this period, the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the East China Sea in Zhejiang province. The festival is held on the day when the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. Due to high temperatures in the sea, stocks of fish remain and become mature. People can enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.
对渔民而言，处暑是收获的季节。处暑期间，浙江省东海沿岸地区会举办“开渔节”。开渔节这天，禁渔期结束，渔民又可以开始捕鱼。由于海水温度较高，鱼类资源得以保留并逐渐成熟。在此期间，人们可以享用丰盛多样的海鲜。
