What is the Chinese summer solstice (夏至) and how is it celebrated?

How much do you know about the Chinese summer solstice holiday? In this article, we explore Chinese summer solstice traditions, regional foods, and the health customs that Chinese people still follow today. Whether you're looking to learn Chinese in China or simply deepen your understanding of Chinese culture, the summer solstice offers a fascinating window into the country's agricultural heritage and philosophical traditions.

01 What Is the Chinese Summer Solstice?

The Chinese summer solstice (夏至, Xiàzhì) refers to both an astronomical event and a traditional festival that celebrates the longest day of the year in China. In astronomical terms, the summer solstice marks the beginning of summer and the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. It also refers to a specific period of time starting when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°, which roughly covers a 14-day time span.

To further understand this concept, we need to take a look at the Chinese calendar and its solar terms.

The 24 Solar Terms

Each solar year (岁, suì) on the Chinese calendar is split into "solar terms" (节气, jiéqì) which mark astronomical events such as equinoxes, solstices and other natural occurrences. Each solar term covers a set period of time which today is usually around 15 days.

During the Shang dynasty (1,600 BCE–1,046 BCE), the solar terms originally only consisted of four events, with the summer solstice being one of them — alongside the winter solstice and the spring and autumn equinoxes. But during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), the solar year was further split into 24 solar terms. These included other natural markers such as the start of autumn (立秋, lìqiū), the period marking the descent of frost (霜降, shuāngjiàng), and the period marking the coldest times during winter (大寒, dàhán). For a deeper look at these dynasties and their lasting influence, explore our Chinese history hub. Currently, the summer solstice is the 10th solar term, while the winter solstice (冬至, Dōngzhì) is the 22nd.

Is the Summer Solstice the Hottest Day of the Year?

Apart from being the longest day of the year, many people assume that the summer solstice is also the hottest day of the year, but this is not true. Instead, the summer solstice traditionally symbolizes upcoming hot weather. The hottest day of the year is usually predicted to be 23 days after the solstice, according to Chinese beliefs.

In China, the summer solstice is also largely associated with humidity and monsoon weather which includes thunder and very heavy rain, sometimes causing major floods, especially in southern China.

The Summer Solstice: A Global Perspective

The summer solstice, celebrated worldwide, marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the "summer solstice" is in fact experienced as the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year.

In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the summer solstice is associated with various traditions and rituals. For example, in Sweden, Midsummer is a major holiday featuring dancing, singing, and feasting. In the United Kingdom, people gather at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise. Native American tribes also hold ceremonies, recognizing the solstice as a time of renewal and gratitude. These global celebrations highlight the shared human connection to this significant astronomical event.

In China, the summer solstice is celebrated with its own unique customs and traditions, deeply rooted in the country's agricultural history and cultural heritage. The solstice marks an important time in the Chinese calendar, signaling the beginning of summer and the height of yang (阳, yáng) energy — a concept in traditional Chinese philosophy. Chinese celebrations often include various rituals and festivities, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity and the historical significance of this celestial event.

02 How Was the Chinese Summer Solstice Traditionally Celebrated?

In ancient times, the summer solstice was often referred to as the "Summer Festival" (夏节, Xiàjié) and "Summer Solstice Festival" (夏至节, Xiàzhìjié). Although some customs remain the same today — including those regarding food, which we will explore later — most ancient Chinese summer solstice celebrations were quite different from those of today.

Harvest Celebrations and Rituals

In ancient China, the summer solstice coincided with the harvest season for wheat, and so it was customary to engage in "earth worship" rituals during this special time. Ancient rituals during the summer solstice included offering sacrifices, engaging in prayer to show gratitude for the harvest, and asking for a good and productive year free from natural disasters. As a result, the summer solstice became a holiday which included ancestral worship ceremonies.

A Public Holiday in Ancient China

Before the Qing dynasty, the summer solstice was such a special event that it was treated like a public holiday. Throughout various dynasties, it was common practice to provide a day off to officials and workers across the country so that they could spend the holiday with their families. In fact, according to some records, officials during the Song dynasty had three days off!

Nowadays, the summer solstice is not considered one of China's public holidays, so it's business as usual in China on this day.

03 How Is the Chinese Summer Solstice Celebrated Today?

The summer solstice is not really "celebrated" in modern Chinese society, and even if it is, it is usually low-key and done so in a way specific to the region in question. For example, in some provinces such as Zhejiang, you might find dragon boat racing going on during the summer solstice.

Apart from such traditional activities, there are also a wide variety of foods that are traditionally consumed on the summer solstice — and to some extent in summer in general. These days, the main focus of this festival is largely on food and health. Knowing a bit about Chinese table manners can help visitors appreciate these customs even more.

04 Chinese Summer Solstice Foods and Traditions

Achieving a balance between yin and yang is considered important in traditional Chinese culture. Recall that yang is used to refer to bright, active energy, while yin refers to dark, passive energy. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the summer solstice has the strongest yang energy of the year. Therefore, during the summer solstice, it is important to protect one's yin and yang balance from being destabilized by too much yang.

As a result, a lot of emphasis is placed on foods that can help reduce the amount of internal heat (解暑, jiěshǔ) in the body to help provide protection against the hot weather. Each region has its own customs. Here are some of the main dishes consumed during this time.

Summer Solstice Noodles (夏至面)

There is a popular saying throughout China: "冬至饺子夏至面" (dōngzhì jiǎozi xiàzhì miàn), which can be translated as, "winter solstice dumplings and summer solstice noodles."

夏至面 (xiàzhì miàn; summer solstice noodles) is a collective reference to the huge variety of noodle dishes in Chinese cuisine. Although any type of noodle dish can be eaten during the solstice, cold sesame oil noodles (麻油凉拌面, máyóu liángbànmiàn) are especially popular, and usually accompanied by other cold dishes such as cold Chinese cabbage salad (凉拌大白菜, liángbàn dàbáicài) and smacked cucumber (拍黄瓜, pāi huángguā). Not only are they delicious, but since they are cold, they are believed to help you keep your appetite despite the scorching summer heat.

Pea Cake (豌豆糕) in Nanjing

Eating pea cake (豌豆糕, wāndòu gāo) is a custom mainly found in Nanjing. During the summer months, you will usually find a lot of family elders making homemade pea cakes to give to their younger family members. Pea cakes have a subtle sweet taste that offers a refreshing and light flavor — perfect for the summer months. Not only are they believed to relieve internal heat from the body, but they are also an appetizing symbol of auspiciousness.

Summer Solstice Eggs (夏至蛋) in Hunan

A popular custom of Hunan province, summer solstice eggs (夏至蛋, xiàzhì dàn) are hard boiled first and then put into a jujube soup after the shell has been removed. According to traditional Chinese medicine, eating these eggs can help people "resist heat" (抵抗酷暑, dǐkàng kùshǔ).

Qingbuliang Soup (清补凉汤)

清补凉汤 (qīngbǔliáng tāng — often referred to as "ching bo leung" in English) is a cold sweet soup popular in the Canton region which is specifically designed to alleviate heat. The ingredients can vary depending on the region, but mainly include gorgon fruit, jujube fruit, lotus seeds, mung beans and Chinese pearl barley. Much like Chinese tea, this soup is enjoyed both for its flavor and its perceived health benefits.

05 Summer Solstice Health Tips from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine still plays an integral part in modern Chinese society, and during the summer solstice and the following summer months, everyone is advised to follow certain rules in order to maintain optimal health. We've outlined some of these traditional guidelines below.

Summer Solstice Sleep Advice

During the summer solstice, people are traditionally encouraged to sleep late and wake up early, before taking an afternoon nap to energize themselves. It's also said to be best to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.

What to Eat During the Summer Solstice

Apart from the traditional foods already mentioned, it is highly encouraged to eat lighter foods that are plain during the summer solstice period. Bitter foods are especially recommended as they are believed to help decrease the heat in one's body. Dishes that include bitter melon (苦瓜, kǔguā) are popular at this time of year.

Light Exercise and Tai Chi

During the summer solstice, it's recommended to only exercise early in the morning or late at night. Exercise should be light, with the most promoted activities being tai chi, walking, dancing and slow jogs.

Performing these activities in parks or near rivers where the air is fresh is encouraged. It's best to avoid intense exercise since it can lead to excessive sweating, causing harm to one's yin energy (阴气, yīnqì) and heat stroke.

06 Celebrate the Chinese Summer Solstice

Now that you know all about the summer solstice in China, why not try some of the delicious traditional summer solstice dishes or put some TCM summer solstice lifestyle advice into practice the next time the summer solstice comes around? If you're planning a trip to experience these traditions firsthand, our guide to the best places to visit in China is a great place to start.

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07 Chinese Summer Solstice Vocabulary

The following vocabulary will help you recognize and discuss summer solstice customs in Chinese. If you're new to pinyin, our beginner's guide is a helpful starting point.