The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Frost's Descent, the 18th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 23 and ends on Nov 6.

Frost's Descent is the last solar term of autumn, when the weather becomes colder than before and frost comes.

Frost begins to appear during this solar term in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, forming as white ice crystals from frozen water vapor near the ground. With the arrival of Frost's Descent, the atmosphere takes on the essence of late autumn.

Eating persimmons during Frost's Descent can help resist the cold and strengthen bones. In the countryside, it is believed that lips will crack if a person forgets to eat persimmons during this period.

The pear is another recommended fruit during Frost's Descent, which can stimulate the release of fluids, clear away heat, and reduce phlegm.

Eating chestnuts during Frost's Descent is beneficial for health. Chestnuts have a warm nature and sweet flavor, and are good for nourishing the spleen and stomach, invigorating blood circulation, relieving coughs, and reducing phlegm.

Vocabulary:

霜降

shuāng jiàng

frost's Descent

冰晶

bīng jīng

ice crystals

水蒸气

shuǐ zhēng qì

vapor

晚秋

wǎn qiū

late autumn

柿子

shì zi

persimmon

梨

lí

pear

栗子

lì zi

chestnut