Traditional culture in plain words
White Dew (白露)
White Dew (白露) is one of the twenty-four solar terms. Nights turn cool, and moisture gathers overnight as small white beads of dew on grass and leaves — hence the name.
At a glance
What the solar terms mean
White Dew falls around 7 or 8 September each year: in 2026 on 7 September, in 2027 on 8 September, and in 2028 on 7 September. Night temperatures dip, and by early morning the plants are dressed in white dew.
The term marks the passing of summer and the arrival of cooler weather. An old saying, 'at White Dew, bare no more' (白露身不露), gently reminds people to add a layer in the mornings and evenings, and to stop cooling off with bare arms.
Traditional customs in different places
Around this time, many households enjoy White Dew tea (白露茶), an autumn tea picked at this season, to welcome the feeling of autumn. In southern China — in Fujian and Taiwan, for instance — people eat longan, a sweet fruit that ripens just now. In parts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Hunan, families also brew White Dew rice wine from the season's rice and water.
Solar terms belong to the traditional calendar and are shared for cultural reference. For weather, please follow the forecast from your local weather service.