白露 Bailu (White Dew) 8 Sept 2018

白露 Bailu (White Dew) is the 15th solar term. The weather has already turned cool and water vapor condenses into dewdrops on vegetation overnight, hence the name. Temperatures drop rapidly and there is continuous rain in certain parts of China such as the southwest. It becomes important to keep warm and prevent autumn dryness. Traditional foods for these period include longans (in Fuzhou, Fujian), wine, grapes and sweet potatoes. Drinking tea is popular, especially in Nanjing, as tea is at its peak after the hot summer, producing a sweet and fragrant brew. Yu the Great, the king who is famous for taming the floods in China, is worshiped by fishermen in the Taihu Lake region.