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小暑 Minor Heat

大家好，今天是小暑。
Minor heat is the 11th solar term of the year, and it signifies the hottest period is coming but the extreme heat has yet to arrive. There is this saying 小暑不算热，大暑三伏天. It’s time to prepare our body for the coming heat.

According to TCM diet therapy, bitter foods help clear heat from the body, absorb dampness, and stimulate appetite. 小暑吃苦胜似进补Gourds, apricot seeds, gingko, and tea leaves are bitter. But if you prefer something sweet, lotus-nut sweet soup 莲子羹 or sweet mung bean soup 绿豆汤 will also relieve the summer heat.

Many families plan a holiday during the summer. One of the country’s most-renowned resorts is Chengde Imperial Mountain Resort in Hebei Province. It’s eight times larger than the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City. Once an imperial retreat for emperors like Kangxi and Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty, the resort features expansive gardens and is open to the public.

Back in the city, trees provide natural sun umbrellas. Shanghai has over 260 signature tree-lined streets. Flanked with French parasol trees, Huaihai Road is highly recommended, but my favorite is Wukang Road for a weekend stroll and a relaxing stop at a cafe.

薰风愠解引新凉，小暑神清夏日长。小暑到，愿您心静自然凉。