October 2026 almanac

October 1–31, 2026 runs from Month 8, day 21 to Month 9, day 22 of the Chinese year Bing-Wu. Solar terms this month: Cold Dew, Frost Descent. Festivals: Double Ninth Festival. Select a date to open it in the calendar with the full almanac, lucky hours and moon phase.

Lunar dates

Month 8, day 21 – Month 9, day 22

Month pillar

Ding-You / Wu-Xu

Solar terms

Cold Dew, Frost Descent

Auspicious days

15 days

October: Cold Dew, Frost's Descent and the Double Ninth

Cold Dew falls around 8 or 9 October, when the dew turns colder still. Frost's Descent, around 23 or 24 October, is the last term of autumn and brings the first frosts to northern China. The north is deep in autumn and some areas already see frost, while the Yangtze region enjoys high, clear skies. Southern China and Hong Kong turn dry and comfortable. In Taiwan the strengthening northeast monsoon brings more rain to the north and east while the centre and south stay sunny.

Mainland China's National Day on 1 October is usually extended to a week-long 'Golden Week'. 1 October is also a public holiday in Hong Kong, and Taiwan's National Day holiday is 10 October. In some years the Mid-Autumn Festival falls in early October. The Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang), on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, usually falls in October and occasionally in early November; customs include climbing heights, admiring chrysanthemums and honouring the elderly, and Taiwan observes it as Senior Citizens' Day. In Hong Kong it is a public holiday, and many families in Hong Kong and Guangdong visit ancestral graves at this time.

A folk saying holds that nourishing the body at Frost's Descent is even better than doing so at the Start of Winter, and in the south persimmons, now in season, are traditionally believed to ward off colds. Northern farmers finish the autumn harvest and sow winter wheat, and Taiwan's second rice crop is harvested between October and November. Settled, pleasant weather makes this a popular month for weddings and outdoor events.

Solar terms and moon phases

Times are in UTC+8.

Festivals, deity birthdays and holidays

Key day spirits this month

Click a date for that day’s full list of spirits. Day spirits ›

Good days at a glance

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