“Liqiu” or “Start of Autumn” is the 13th of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, marking the end of summer and the arrival of autumn. Since then, no matter how hot the day is, the wind at night will be different from the hot summer day. The weather will get cooler day by day.
Liqiu is very important harvest time for farmers. It is a critical period for the cultivation of some crops and fruits in China.
There are many customs in the Liqiu now such as 晒秋Shai Qiu, hanging and drying the crops around the house. 啃秋Ken Qiu, eating watermelon or cantaloupe; 贴秋膘 Tie Qiu Biao, taking some nutrition like fish and meat to gain some fat which lost in summer due to lose of appetite ; 躺秋 Tang Qiu lay down in shade and take a nap.
