Cold Dew (Hanlu) is the 17th of China’s 24 solar terms and the fifth during autumn.

During this period, temperatures drop far below the earlier White Dew, and surface dew now condenses to frost, a harbinger of winter’s impending arrival.

Han Lu is the penultimate solar term of autumn, before winter officially arrives across China.

Unlike the first half of the season, characterized by a bright golden hue, the second half seems a little bit dim with tree branches becoming undressed and naked. As temperatures fall, the dew begins to get colder before eventually frosting, thus the name “Cold Dew”.

(By Liuqin/Fanying)