What Season Is May in China? Calendar and Regional Context
May is meteorological spring in China, but local weather ranges from cool northern conditions to…
Read More →Cold Dew, Hanlu (寒露), marks an autumn calendar point after the Autumn Equinox and before Frost Descent. In 2026 it falls on October 8 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8), at a solar longitude of 195°.
Calendar position and meaning
Cold Dew is Hanlu, not Shuangjiang. The dew in its name should not be equated with frost or treated as proof that a location has entered freezing weather.
| Chinese name | Hanlu (寒露) |
|---|---|
| Solar longitude | 195° |
| 2026 date | October 8, Hong Kong Time (UTC+8) |
| Adjacent terms | Autumn Equinox → Cold Dew → Frost Descent |
Seasonal context
These are dated agricultural observations, not a shared festival ritual or a planting instruction for every year.
The seasonal word “autumn” here follows the traditional Northern Hemisphere calendar. The Hong Kong Observatory relates many term names to ancient central Chinese weather and agriculture. Local weather and plant development may differ; Southern Hemisphere seasonal timing is reversed.
Regional example and limits
Xinhua photographs published by the State Council portal document different work on October 8, 2022: apple picking in Pingliang, Gansu; corn harvesting in Liaocheng, Shandong; and strawberry planting in Dazhou, Sichuan.
Regional example source: read the named account. The account supports the place and practice stated above, not medical benefits or a national rule.
Calendar sources
Hong Kong Observatory: term names and solar longitudes; 2026 Gregorian–lunar conversion table; date and time notes (Hong Kong Time, UTC+8). The calendar sources establish astronomical timing and terminology; they do not verify regional customs.
Related reading
- 24 solar terms
- 24 solar terms calendar 2026
- chinese seasonal food calendar
- External cultural reference
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Cold Dew in 2026?
October 8 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The solar-term boundary is at 195° solar longitude; civil dates in other timezones can differ.
Does Cold Dew predict local weather?
No. The term is defined astronomically. Its seasonal name does not establish the temperature, rainfall or snowfall at a particular location.
