Minor Heat, the 11th of China’s 24 solar terms, typically arrives around July 7-8, marking the deepening of summer’s heat. Days grow swelteringly hot, with sudden afternoon thunderstorms drenching the air—quick downpours that leave a muggy warmth lingering, while cicadas chirp louder under the sun.

In fields, rice shoots stretch upward and corn cobs plump with kernels, thriving in the heat; farmers rush to weed and fertilize, tending crops in their crucial growth spurt. Folklore brings small joys: crisp lotus root dishes cool the palate, and families air out clothes and bedding, letting sunlight banish dampness and must. It’s a season of blazing heat, yet brimming with vibrant life.