江苏留学网

International students at Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang pose with watermelon slices shaped as smiles and the Chinese characters of "立秋", or Start of Autumn, to celebrate the 13th solar term of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar which began on Aug 8 this year. Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of fall and indicates that the fruitful season is approaching. "Biting Autumn" is a folk custom in Zhenjiang, when locals eat watermelons to express their wish to drive away the summer heat and embrace the cool of autumn. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But the solar term culture is still useful today to guide people's lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips that correspond to each term. [Photo/IC]