We've reached the second to last solar term, "Minor Cold" which is often the coldest part of the year in China, despite its name. We'll talk about the phoenix and dragon symbols, their meanings and the delicious Laba Festival as we begin to wrap up our coverage of the 24 solar terms. 

It's time for Dong Zhi, the Winter Solstice. We'll talk about the traditions and delicious food of the solar term as well as the "Small New Year", "counting down the nines" and cows getting a one-day holiday. 

Da Xue, or Major Snow is the time for snowball fights, ice skating, preserving meat and enjoying delicious lamb soup to keep up your energy.

Minor snow means winter has really begun. It's time for all varieties of hot soup, and time to pickle vegetables and meat. We'll discuss how to stay warm, correct some jack-o-lantern errors and describe northern China's perfect snow for skiing or boarding. 

Li Dong is the start of winter which means ice and snow in the north and cooler temperatures in the south. We'll talk about dumplings again of course, as well as pumpkins and the most important phrase to learn in any language. Join us! 

"Frost Decends" is the transition from autumn to winter. You can satisfy your sweet tooth with persimmons and eat some roasted chestnuts to keep warm in the chilly breezes. 

Hanlu, "cold dew" is the first solar term after the autumn equinox. Make sure your feet stay dry and warm and learn how to make drunken crab from Jiajia. Contact us at: [email protected]

The Autumn Equinox features a delicious and beautiful treat - the moon cake. We'll talk about its history and the Moon Cake Festival as well as autumn cattle folk art and the bugs getting ready to sleep through winter.  

The third autumn solar term, bailu (white dew) means cooler temperatures, dry winds and birds migrating south to prepare for winter. Join us as Jiajia gives his recipe for tomato egg soup, talks about his grandma's rice wine soup and how lucky it is to step in dog excrement. 

In ancient times, chunshu, the second solar term of autumn, was a time for sailing candle-lit paper and eggplant boats to remember the ancestors, eating delicious duck meals to prepare for the coming winter and drinking herbal tea to help deal with the change of seasons.