Today is 22nd September, or the 6th of the eighth month of Chinese lunar calendar, marks Qiufen (Autumn Equinox), the 16th solar term of this year. The sun is directly above equator, resulting in an equal division of day and night, no polar day or polar night around the globe.

In ancient China, sacrifices were offered to the sun on Chunfen (Spring Equinox) and to the moon on Qiufen (Autumn Equinox). Qiufen was originally the traditional festival to offer sacrifices to the moon, which was changed to the Mid-autumn day (15th of the eighth month of Chinese lunar calendar) when the moon is full. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held sacrificial ceremonies at the Temple of the Moon in Beijing.

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, farmers are busy bringing in the harvest, and families get together for a bit of moon worship. The Autumn Equinox is midway through Autumn and marks the beginning of deepest Autumn. The most change is in the color of the trees. They are so vivid that they could be in an oil painting.

Autumn Equinox Health Feast

After the Autumn Equinox, the weather gets cooler and cooler, it is especially important to eat and keep healthy. In Suzhou, Jiangsu, residents greet their neighbors at the Autumn Equinox and enjoy an "Autumn Equinox Health Feast". “Cold black fungus” is the best seasonal food for the Autumnal Equinox, with a tender, tasty taste that can moisten the lungs and nourish the blood. “Fried lotus root” can detoxify and anti-aging, replenish blood and clear the lungs to lower blood pressure.

Cold black fungus

Fried lotus root

Nanjing Osmanthus Duck

When sweet Osmanthus flowers bloom in autumn, people in Nanjing make scrumptious Osmanthus salted duck. Nanjing Osmanthus Duck tastes so delicious that you feel fat but not greasy.

Yanghzou Wine Osmanthus

On the Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox, the day and night are of equal time both in the southern and northern hemispheres. The earth's axis, on its 66.5-degree tilt, is in a relative balance of power with the earth's orbit around the sun. Thus, it is a very conducive time for standing eggs on end. The game is also a way to show people’s respect and reverence for life and fertility.

Two children try to make eggs stand on end

Video provided by China Xinhua News Network Corporation

All pictures are provided by www.whcbyun.com

Special thanks to:
Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
China Xinhua News Network Corporation
China Daily