As Great Heat arrives, all things flourish in splendor. The peak heat of summer 2026 has come as expected. As the final solar term of the season, Great Heat is the time of year when the sun shines most brightly and the summer heat is at its strongest. With cicadas’ incessant song and lotus‑scented breezes rippling across the ponds, even amid the sweltering heat there are cooling delicacies, time‑honored health‑preserving remedies, and a touch of Chinese‑style romance. May you endure the blazing summer days and patiently await the crisp autumn breezes.

Great Heat Science: What Is Great Heat?

Great Heat, when the Big Dipper points to the Wei constellation and the Sun reaches a celestial longitude of 120°, falls around the midpoint of the “Three Dog Days” period. As the saying goes, “Little Heat isn’t really hot, but Great Heat is the height of the dog days.” Compared with Little Heat, Great Heat sees temperatures peak for the year, accompanied by abundant rainfall and a sweltering mix of heat and humidity, as the air brims with the intense, lingering essence of summer. During this time, crops grow at an astonishing pace: rice grains fill out, lotus flowers bloom in full splendor, and fruits ripen—marking the zenith of nature’s exuberant vitality.

In the Great Heat of 2026, scorching heat blankets the streets and alleys; the blazing sun beats down at midday, while in the evening, the gentle breeze carries the lingering warmth of grass and trees. Every household begins its daily ritual of beating the heat—each step a testament to the ancient wisdom of living in harmony with the seasons.

The Three Hou of Great Heat: Understanding the Seasonal Rhythm of Midsummer

First period: Rotting grass turns into fireflies.
On sweltering, humid nights, fireflies emerge from decaying vegetation. In the summer dusk, they flit and flutter, their tiny lights spilling onto lotus ponds and courtyards— a romantic nocturnal scene unique to the height of summer. Once upon a time, children would chase these glowing insects with palm‑leaf fans, a tender summer memory etched deep in their hearts.

The second hou: the earth becomes moist, and the summer heat grows oppressive.
The land is soaked by the rain, and the air is humid, hot, and sticky; walking along the path, one feels weighed down by the oppressive heat—this is “ru shu,” the sultry summer. The moist earth nourishes the crops, yet it also leaves people easily irritable and weary, calling for a calm mind to quench the dryness.

The third hou: Heavy rain falls.
When the summer heat reaches its peak, sudden downpours often arrive. Afternoon thunderstorms come and go in a flash, briefly quelling the sweltering dryness; afterward, the air carries the earthy scent of soil and the delicate fragrance of lotus flowers, making that brief respite all the more precious.

Dazhu Folk Customs: Hidden Summer Rituals of Our Ancestors

Drink Fu Tea

During the dog days of summer, it’s a must to sip “fu cha,” a cooling herbal tea brewed with ingredients like honeysuckle, licorice, mint, and lotus leaves. You’ll often find roadside stalls selling this refreshing drink. A single cup banishes the sweltering heat, a time-honored tradition that has endured for millennia.

Sun-dried ginger in summer

At the height of Great Heat, when the midday sun is at its fiercest, every household slices fresh ginger and dries it in the sun to make “fu‑jiang.” In summer, consuming raw or cold foods can easily upset the spleen and stomach; fu‑jiang warms the middle and dispels cold, and it can be steeped in water or used in cooking—helping you nurture your body in harmony with the season.

Eat summer mutton, enjoy herb jelly.

In the north, it’s customary to enjoy mutton soup during the Great Heat, using warmth to counteract internal dampness and cold; in the south, people favor grass jelly, mung bean soup, and lotus seed–lily bulb porridge—cool, tender, and soothing, which clears heat and cuts through greasiness. In the Jiangnan region, there’s also the tradition of admiring lotus flowers and harvesting lotus pods, with boat rides on lotus ponds helping to dispel the summer’s sweltering gloom.

Enjoying lotus flowers to beat the summer heat

Great Heat is precisely the peak season for lotus flowers: emerald leaves stretch endlessly across the ponds, while pink and white blossoms stand tall and graceful. In ancient times, people would stroll through gardens to admire the lotuses and take boat rides to gather lotus pods, using the cool breeze from the pond to ward off the sweltering heat—this was a refined pleasure uniquely associated with Great Heat.

Summer Solstice Health Guide: Avoid Excessive Coolness and Spend the Dog Days in Peace and Comfort

Diet | Light, dehumidifying foods; limit ice and spicy dishes.

Eat more cooling foods: mung beans, winter melon, loofah, lotus seeds, lily bulbs, watermelon, and lotus leaf porridge.

Consume damp‑clearing foods in moderation—such as Poria, Coix Seed, and adzuki beans—by boiling them into water or simmering them in soups to help alleviate feelings of heaviness, fatigue, and weakness.

Avoid long-term consumption of ice-cold beverages and foods that are overly greasy or spicy; alternating between hot and cold can easily damage the stomach and intestines, leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Daily Routine | Go to bed late and wake up early, with a short afternoon nap.

In summer, days are long and nights are short, so it’s advisable to go to bed later and wake up earlier. Between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., when temperatures peak, limit outdoor activities and take a 20- to 30-minute midday nap to ease the restlessness and fatigue caused by the heat.

Living | Ensure adequate ventilation; avoid prolonged exposure to air conditioning.

Open windows in the morning and evening to ventilate and dissipate dampness; set your air conditioner to 26°C or higher to avoid direct cold air blowing on your shoulders, neck, and joints; after sweating, refrain from taking a cold shower right away, as moisture can easily penetrate the body.

Emotions & Mindset | Calm Your Mind to Prevent Summer Irritability

High temperatures can easily leave one irritable and agitated. In your spare moments, sit in quiet contemplation, admire the lotus flowers, and sip tea to calm your mind—after all, as the saying goes, “A tranquil heart naturally feels cool,” making this the finest way to nurture your spirit during the height of summer.

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