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In the blink of an eye, the warm breeze arrives, and with it comes the 2026 Xiaoshu solar term, ushering in a 40-day-long “Sanfu” period.

Release time:

2026-07-07 07:21

2026.07.07 Minor Heat | In the Year of the Red Horse, with Heavenly Stem Bing and Earthly Branch Wu, the grand summer season officially begins.

I. Today is Xiao Shu: the solar term has arrived precisely, and an early Xiao Shu heralds the onset of the Dog Days.

The exact time of the Xiaoshu solar term in 2026: July 7, 09:56:40, the twenty-third day of the fifth lunar month in the year Bingshen.

When the solar term arrives in the morning, it is colloquially called “Early Xiao Shu.” As an old farmer’s saying goes: In the morning, during Minor Heat, the dry riverbeds parch up; by day, the heat of Minor Heat can even kill a cow. 。

This year is particularly unusual: it is the Year of the Red Horse in the Bingwu cycle, with both the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches belonging to the element Fire, compounded by… 40-day extended version of the Sanfu period (First Dog Days: July 15–24, Middle Dog Days: July 25–August 13, Last Dog Days: August 14–23) Scorching, humid “sauna‑like” weather will persist for nearly a month, with sweltering heat and an easily inflamed heart fire; taking timely measures to beat the heat and nurture your health is imperative.

Xiaoshu, the eleventh of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, is described in the “Collection of Explanations for the Seventy-Two Hou of the Monthly Ordinances” as follows: “Shu means heat; at the beginning of the month it is ‘small,’ and at mid-month it becomes ‘great.’ Today, the heat is still mild, hence the name Xiaoshu.” Though the peak of summer has not yet arrived, muggy warmth has already made its presence felt. The Yangtze River basin is gradually emerging from the plum‑rain season, and across the country, the full‑blown summer has begun.

II. The Three Hou of Minor Heat: Decoding the Romantic Seasonal Signs of Summer

When the warm winds arrive—there is no longer a cool evening breeze in the world; every gust that sweeps through the streets and fields carries with it sweltering waves of heat, while the cicadas’ song never ceases, heralding the arrival of midsummer.

The Cricket’s Refuge | In the sweltering heat of the fields, crickets leave the open countryside and seek shelter in eaves, wall corners, and the cracks between bricks and stones. The delicate, rhythmic chirps of summer nights are a kind of white noise unique to the height of summer.

The hawk begins its dive | With scorching ground temperatures, the eagle soars high, circling to forage and escape the sweltering heat below, riding the winds with effortless grace.

A pond of lotus, the chirping of cicadas, and a gust of hot wind—these little fragments come together to form the essence of Minor Heat. Gardenias and jasmine bloom in succession, lotus leaves spread across the pond, and the lotus flowers stand tall and graceful, their verdant hues easing much of the sweltering heat.

III. Traditional Xiaoshu Customs Hidden in Everyday Life

1. Tasting the new harvest and giving thanks for a bountiful yield

In the South, there has long been the custom of “eating the new” at the start of the Minor Heat solar term: once the new rice is harvested and milled into fresh grains, families first offer sacrifices to their ancestors and the five cereals, then share a meal of newly cooked rice and wheat-based pastries. Neighbors exchange gifts as well, praying for favorable weather and bountiful harvests year after year.

2. Eating dumplings on the first day of the dog days of summer to stimulate the appetite and relieve the bitterness of summer.

As the old saying goes, “Dumplings in the first dog days, noodles in the second, and pancakes with fried eggs in the third.” During the sweltering dog days, appetite often wanes, and people tend to grow thin—a condition known as “bitter summer.” Dumplings, with their fresh, savory flavor, stimulate the appetite and replenish lost energy, making them an essential ritual for Northerners at the start of the dog days. China Meteorological Administration 。

3. The Three Treasures of Minor Heat: Nourish Yourself with Seasonal Foods

Eel: At the start of summer, yellow eels are as good as ginseng. , nourish qi and blood, and alleviate summer‑time physical weakness and excess dampness. People’s Government of Guizhou Province
Honey‑Glazed Lotus Root: Fresh lotus root clears heat and calms the spirit; simmered over low heat until tender and drizzled with honey, it promotes sleep and moistens dryness.
Mung bean sprouts: clear heat and relieve summer discomfort, light and help cut through greasiness.

4. Sun-drying for preservation, sun-drying red and green chilies, and sun-drying preserved ginger

June 6 falls around the time of Minor Heat, when households dry their quilts, clothes, and treasured books under the blazing sun to disinfect and ward off dampness. Folk wisdom dictates slicing fresh ginger, exposing it to the intense heat, and then sealing it away—later, in autumn and winter, it’s steeped in tea to dispel cold and eliminate dampness, a testament to our ancestors’ age‑old principle of nurturing in summer and storing for winter.

5. Northern Jiangsu and Southern Shandong Specialty: Drinking Summer Goat Milk

“In Pengcheng, a bowl of mutton soup needs no prescription from a divine healer.” During the dog days of summer, people enjoy mutton and mutton soup—using heat to counteract heat, inducing perspiration to expel dampness and impurities from the body—a distinctive summer tradition of nourishing the body.

IV. A Special Health Guide for the Extra-Long Sanfu of 2026

In the Bingwu Fire Year, with 40 days of “Tianfu” heat, dampness and heat are both prominent; the core principle of health preservation is: Clears heat and eliminates dampness, nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, and avoids excessive consumption of cold foods.

[Diet: Emphasize cooling and moistening foods; avoid icy drinks]

We always have mung bean soup, winter melon soup, lotus leaf tea, and honeysuckle herbal tea on hand to stay hydrated and beat the heat.
Eat more seasonal fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, loofah, lotus root, lotus seeds, and grapes to strengthen the spleen and clear the heart.
Iced milk tea, cold beer, and chilled beverages—sudden exposure to extreme cold can harm the spleen and stomach, leading to diarrhea and fatigue.
Keep meals light and low in oil, reduce spicy and greasy foods, and avoid aggravating heart fire, which can lead to irritability and insomnia.

[Daily Life: Protect Yang Qi, Skillfully Embrace the Cool Breeze]

Go to bed late and rise early, and take a 20–30-minute midday nap to nourish the heart, calm the spirit, and relieve summer fatigue.
Reduce outdoor activities at noon and avoid intense sunlight between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to prevent heatstroke.
Set the air conditioner to no lower than 26°C, and at night, cover your shoulders, neck, and abdomen with a thin blanket to prevent cold and dampness from entering.
In the early morning and late evening, take a gentle stroll in the breeze—just enough to break a light sweat—and avoid vigorous outdoor activities under direct sunlight.

[Emotions and Mindset: A Calm Heart Brings Natural Coolness]

Summer heat can easily make people irritable, quick to anger, and prone to palpitations and insomnia. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that summer corresponds to the heart, and emotional agitation depletes the heart’s qi.

In your leisure time, admire the lotus, brew a cup of clear tea, and lose yourself in a good book. With less anxiety and self‑consumption, and by holding fast to the cool serenity within, you’ll find the best way to beat the summer heat.

V. A Tender Message to Midsummer

In a flash, the warm breeze arrives, and before we know it, Lesser Heat has come.

In the summer of 2026, there are lingering cicada songs, lotus-scented ponds, chilled watermelons, and the evening breeze.

Even though the 40-day dog days of summer bring sweltering, unrelenting heat, may you still find your own haven of coolness:

A peaceful rest beneath the trees, a cup of fragrant tea in hand, fresh meals three times a day, and carefree days through all four seasons.

May you enjoy good health and peace this Lesser Heat, unafraid of the summer’s scorching heat, with a gentle breeze always lingering in your heart.

May you safely make it through the extended dog days of summer, and as summer gives way to autumn, may all things go smoothly.

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