Beginning of Summer marks vibrant growth in China

[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Beginning of Summer, or "Lixia" in Chinese, is the seventh solar term in traditional Chinese solar calendar. This year, it began on May 5 and will last until May 19.

This period is a crucial phase for crops because there is sufficient sunlight, favorable temperatures, and abundant rainfall, creating optimal growing conditions for plants.

During this time, mole crickets chirp, and earthworms emerge from the ground, indicating increased activity among subterranean creatures. The Beginning of Summer marks the beginning of a vibrant period when nature burgeons and an idyllic atmosphere prevails.

In northern China, including Lingcheng district in Dezhou, East China's Shandong province, there is a tradition of eating the flowers of sophora japonica, also known as the Chinese scholar tree. Typically, people gather ripe sophora flowers, wash them, and mix them with flour, eggs, scallions, and salt before frying them in a pot, enjoying the last flavors of spring.

To learn more about this vibrant period, watch the video. (Edited by Hu Kaili)