For international friends exploring the traditional Chinese calendar, “White Dew” (Bailu) is one of the most poetic names among all 24 solar terms. It is the fifteenth solar term and the third one in autumn, usually arriving between September 7th and 9th in the Gregorian calendar.
bailu
If End of Heat is summer’s farewell, then White Dew is the moment when autumn truly takes the stage — crystal-clear dewdrops begin to appear on grass leaves at dawn, glowing white in the morning light. That is how “White Dew” got its name.
What Does “Bailu” Mean?
“Bai” (白) means “white,” and “Lu” (露) means “dew.” “Bailu” means: the morning dew, formed by dropping temperatures, appears pure white in color.
The ancient text Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie explains: “Around the eighth lunar month… yin energy grows heavier, and the dew condenses and turns white.” This means that around the eighth month of the lunar calendar, as yin energy gradually intensifies and nighttime temperatures drop, moisture in the air condenses into dewdrops on plants and grass. In the early morning light, everything appears sparkling white.
From the Beginning of White Dew, the temperature difference between day and night begins to increase.
White Dew is an important solar term that reflects changes in temperature. From this point on, temperatures across most of China drop noticeably, and the gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures widens. People can finally feel the true chill of autumn.
Nature’s Signals: The Three Pentads of White Dew
Ancient Chinese divided White Dew into three pentads (each lasting five days) to record the subtle changes in nature during mid-autumn:
- First Pentad: Wild Geese Arrive. Wild geese sense the cooling weather and begin their migration from north to south for the winter. Ancient people called wild geese “birds that know the seasons” — they fly south around the Autumn Equinox and return north around the Vernal Equinox every year, never missing their schedule.
Wild geese begin migrating from the north to the south.
- Second Pentad: Swallows Return. “Xuan Niao” (玄鸟) refers to swallows. Swallows also sense the deepening autumn and leave their nests in the north, flying toward the warm south. Flocks of swallows soaring southward are a moving sight during White Dew.
- Third Pentad: Birds Store Food. “Xiu” (羞) is interchangeable with “Xiu” (馐), meaning delicacies or food. Various birds begin foraging intensively to stockpile food for the coming winter. They bustle through forests and fields, as if preparing for a long, cold season ahead.
Climate Characteristics of White Dew
White Dew is a critical watershed for temperature changes. At this time, temperatures across most of China drop significantly, and the summer monsoon gradually gives way to the winter monsoon.
The most striking feature is the rapidly widening gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Daytime may still be warm and pleasant, but mornings and evenings are already distinctly cool. There is a folk saying: “After White Dew and Autumn Equinox, each night grows cooler than the last,” vividly describing the trend of temperatures dropping night by night after White Dew.
Another notable feature is the increase in dew. Because nighttime temperatures drop sharply, moisture in the air easily condenses on the surfaces of plants and grass. When stepping outside in the early morning, your shoes are often wet with dew, and grass blades are adorned with glistening droplets that sparkle in the sunlight.
In addition, White Dew marks a period of reduced rainfall across most of China. Crisp, clear autumn skies begin to appear — the sky turns deep blue, the air feels fresh, and it becomes one of the most pleasant times of the year.
Customs Full of Everyday Warmth
Although White Dew is not as grand as Spring Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival, it has given rise to many charming and heartwarming customs:
1. Collecting Morning Dew
Ancient people believed that the dew during White Dew was the purest and had health benefits. Li Shizhen recorded in Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica): “When autumn dew is abundant, collect it in trays and boil it down like syrup — it prolongs life and prevents hunger.” There was a tradition of gathering dew from grass leaves on White Dew mornings to brew tea or make medicine. Although modern science holds different views on the benefits of dew, this custom reflects the ancients’ keen observation of nature and their pursuit of wellness.
2. Drinking White Dew Tea
In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, there is a saying: “Spring tea is bitter, summer tea is astringent — if you want tea, drink White Dew tea.” Tea leaves picked during White Dew, having grown fully through the summer, have a rich and mellow flavor. Not as delicate as spring tea, they carry a sense of depth and maturity instead. Old Nanjing residents especially favor White Dew tea, believing it is neither too cooling nor too warming — perfect for autumn.
3. Brewing White Dew Rice Wine
In Hunan, Jiangxi, and other provinces, there is a tradition of brewing rice wine during White Dew. The wine made at this time is called “White Dew Rice Wine,” crafted from glutinous rice, sorghum, and other grains. It is mild in nature and sweet in taste. Locals believe that the water during White Dew is especially clear and the temperature just right, producing wine of exceptional fragrance and smoothness.
4. Eating Longan
In Fuzhou, Fujian Province, there is a custom of eating longan during White Dew. Folk belief holds that longan is warm in nature and sweet in flavor, nourishing the heart and spleen while enriching qi and blood. Eating it during White Dew helps strengthen the body against the autumn chill. People in Fuzhou often say, “One longan at White Dew is worth a whole chicken,” showing just how much they value this tradition.
5. Worshipping Yu the Great
In the regions around Lake Taihu, there is a tradition of worshipping Yu the Great during White Dew. Fishermen pay tribute to Yu on this day, thanking him for his legendary achievements in flood control, while also praying for favorable weather and a bountiful fishing season. The ceremonies typically last several days and include opera performances, market fairs, and other lively festivities.
White Dew is like a short poem that autumn writes to the earth. In the most delicate way, it tells Chinese people: the weather has truly cooled, the dew has truly turned white, and autumn has truly arrived.
Next time you step outside on a White Dew morning and see dewdrops glistening on grass blades in the early light, feel that crisp coolness in the air, or slowly sip a warm cup of White Dew tea, take a moment to appreciate this ancient Chinese wisdom — nature never lies. With a single drop of dew, it reveals the secret of the season.
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