处（chǔ）暑是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第十四个节气，每年公历8月23日前后，当太阳到达黄经150度时，进入处暑节气。“处”有“终止”之意，处暑的到来意味着中国绝大部分地区正在脱离炎夏，迈入凉爽秋天，因而可译为End of Heat。以下是关于处暑你应该知道的六件事。

（ 图源：视觉中国）

Enjoying fall colors in early September
九月初赏秋色

In China, regions beyond the Great Wall will enter autumn in early September. People can enjoy the scenery as it changes gradually from summer to autumn.

在中国，长城以北的地区将在九月初进入秋季。人们可以欣赏到夏秋交替时渐变的美景。

Autumn weariness
秋乏

There is a saying that, "People tend to feel sleepy in spring, doze in summer and feel tired in autumn." As the weather becomes cool during End of Heat, many people will feel languid and weary, which is called "autumn weariness". It is a sign that the human body needs rest, since people have consumed excessive energy in the summer. Get enough sleep, do more exercises and keep plants indoor to help.

俗话说：“春困、秋乏、夏打盹”。随着“处暑”的到来，天气转凉，许多人会感到无精打采、疲惫不堪，这就是所谓的“秋乏”，是身体需要休息的信号，因为夏季消耗了过多的能量，而充足的睡眠、适量的运动以及室内摆放的植物，都有助于缓解这种疲劳。

Enjoying clouds
赏云

When the End of Heat comes, summer heat is gone. Clouds in the sky scatter around forming different shapes. There is a saying that goes, "Enjoying the clouds of various forms in July and August (lunar month)."

处暑来，暑气渐散。天空中散落的流云变化成各种形状。俗话说：“七八月，看巧云。”

Time for night-blooming cereus
夜来昙花现

The night-blooming cereus is a flower full of mystery, which often blooms during the period of End of Heat. This is because the climate during End of Heat, characterized by warm days and cold nights, is similar to tropical deserts. Night-blooming cereus originates in the tropical deserts from Mexico to Brazil in South America. They blossom at night to avoid the blazing daytime sun.

昙花是一种充满神秘气息的花，常在处暑时期绽放。这是因为处暑时的气候具有昼暖夜凉的特点，与热带沙漠气候相似。昙花原产于墨西哥到南美洲巴西的热带沙漠里，它们夜晚开放，以避白日的强光。

Eating Duck
吃鸭子

Duck has a sweet flavor and according to Chinese traditional medicine it has a "cool" nature. A folk tradition is to eat duck during the End of Heat period. There are many recipes for cooking duck such as roast duck, cooked duck with lemon, smoked duck with walnut dressing and sautéed duck with ginger shoots. The tradition of eating duck during the End of Heat period is still popular in China.

传统中医理论记载，鸭子味甘，性凉，因此民间有处暑吃鸭子的传统。鸭子有很多种做法，如烤鸭、柠檬鸭、胡桃酱熏鸭和子姜鸭等。处暑吃鸭子的传统在中国依然十分流行。

The Fishing Season Festival
开渔节

For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest. During this period, the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the East China Sea in Zhejiang province. The festival is held on the day when the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. Due to high temperatures in the sea, stocks of fish remain and become mature. People can enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.

对渔民而言，处暑是收获的季节。在此期间，我国浙江省东部沿海的一些地区会举办“开渔节”。当禁渔期结束、渔民可以重新开始打渔时会举办“开渔节”活动。在此期间，人们可以享用丰盛多样的海鲜。

英文来源｜ChinaDaily

制作｜印子

审核｜肖英 / 万顷

终审｜清欢