1. Climate & Natural Phenomena
Qiufen (Autumn Equinox) is the 16th solar term, occurring around September 22 to 24. Like Spring Solstice, the sun shines directly on the equator, dividing day and night into equal 12-hour lengths worldwide. It also marks the exact astronomical midpoint of the autumn season. After Qiufen, daylight shortens and temperatures drop progressively across the Northern Hemisphere.
Ancient Chinese phenology divided Autumn Equinox into three distinctive micro-seasons (Penthads / 三候):
雷始收声 Spring and summer thunderstorms fall completely silent as Yin energy dominates.
蛰虫培户 Hibernating insects begin repairing and sealing their burrows against winter cold.
水始涸 Rainfall diminishes significantly, and seasonal river waters begin to dry up and recede.
2. Lifestyle, Diet & Customs
Qiufen represents tranquility and gratitude. Since 2018, Autumn Equinox has also been officially designated as the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival (中国农民丰收节).
🍵 Diet & Health
Health regimes during Qiufen emphasize preventing autumn dryness and maintaining mental peace as sunlight hours decrease:
- Eating Autumn Vegetables (吃秋菜): In southern China, families forage for wild amaranth to make fish soup, believed to cleanse the body and promote family harmony.
- Crab & Chrysanthemum Wine: Mid-autumn is the prime season for sweet, plump lake crabs, paired with warming ginger tea or yellow wine.
- Moistening Soups: Regular consumption of sesame, honey, and lily bulbs to protect skin and respiratory health.
🏮 Folk Traditions
In ancient China, emperors held grand ceremonies on Qiufen for “Worshiping the Moon” (祭月) at the Moon Altar (Etan) in Beijing. This solemn ritual of thanksgiving for harvest abundance eventually evolved into the popular Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations we enjoy today.
📜 Classic Poetry
Poets admired Qiufen for its crisp, clean air and the melancholy beauty of falling leaves:
《晚次鄂州》 — 卢纶 (Tang Dynasty)
云开远见汉阳城，犹是孤帆一日程。
估客昼眠知浪静，舟人夜语觉潮生。
(As the clouds clear, I see Hanyang city afar—still a full day’s journey by lone sail. Sleeping merchants know the daytime waves are calm, while boatmen talking in the night feel the rising evening tide.)
3. Agricultural Wisdom
In rural farming communities, an old proverb states: “Autumn Equinox brings equal day and night; harvest early crops and plant winter wheat (秋分昼夜平，及时种麦莫延迟).”
This is a bustling period of dual agricultural activity: completing the harvest of late rice, cotton, and corn, while immediately preparing the soil to sow winter wheat before frost arrives.