End of Heat (Chushu, 處暑) arrives at solar longitude 150°, when summer heat is said to stop; the north cools, while the south still has warm spells.
Solar longitude
150°
Type
Principal term (zhongqi)
Season
Autumn
Order
No. 14 of 24
Usual dates
Aug 22–23
Meaning and Astronomy
Chushu (處暑) begins when the sun reaches ecliptic longitude 150°, usually between 22 and 24 August. The character chu here means 'to stop' or 'to retire', so the name means the end of the heat, not 'being in the heat'. A classical commentary on the 72 pentads explains it simply: the summer heat stops here.
It is the second term of autumn and a zhongqi (中氣) or 'principal' term, the principal term of the seventh lunar month. Coming about fifteen days after the Start of Autumn, it is a transitional period: heat retreats clearly in the north, but the south often has more muggy days ahead.
The Three Pentads
First pentad: Hawks make offerings of birds (鷹乃祭鳥) - hawks hunt actively and seem to lay out their prey before eating, which ancient writers read as a sign of autumn's austere energy.
Second pentad: Heaven and earth begin to turn austere (天地始肅) - plant growth slows and nature shifts from abundance toward withdrawal.
Third pentad: Grains ripen (禾乃登) - millet, rice and other grains come to maturity and are ready for harvest.
Climate and Farming
After Chushu, mornings and evenings in northern and northeastern China become cool and dry, and the wide day-night temperature range helps crops build up their yield. South of the Yangtze, renewed heat is common, summed up in the saying 'Chushu is still hot, like an autumn tiger'. Taiwan and Hong Kong remain in typhoon season, and tropical cyclones can still bring strong winds and heavy rain in late August and September.
In the north, farmers manage the final growth of autumn crops and begin harvesting early varieties. In the south, middle-season rice is harvested while late rice reaches tillering and booting, when water and pest control matter most. Cotton bolls open and many orchards are being picked.
Customs
Chushu often falls close to the Ghost Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, so customs overlap. Floating lanterns on rivers is one example: lit lanterns are set on the water, traditionally to guide and comfort the spirits of the drowned. The practice survives in parts of southern China and in Taiwan, notably during Keelung's Ghost Festival.
As the air clears, people in the past went on outings to 'welcome autumn' and admire the high autumn clouds. Eating duck is another custom: old Beijing households bought lily-stuffed duck, and elsewhere people make duck soup or ginger duck, since duck was traditionally considered a mild food suitable for the change of season.
On the coast, the season is linked to fishing. Many waters have a summer fishing ban, and when it ends some harbours hold ceremonies as the fleets head out, praying for safety and good catches. The exact dates are set by local authorities and do not necessarily coincide with Chushu.
Seasonal Food and Wellness
Traditional thinking sees this as a time when humidity gives way to dryness, with cool mornings and hot afternoons that leave people feeling sluggish, sometimes called 'autumn fatigue'. Going to bed earlier and taking a short midday rest when possible are traditional suggestions.
Meals are generally kept light, with seasonal produce such as pears, grapes, lotus root and winter melon, plus lily bulb and white fungus, which are traditionally considered moistening. Adding a layer in the morning and evening and avoiding direct air-conditioning drafts are common everyday reminders. These are traditional practices, not medical advice.