A great time for hiking

During Cold Dew, North China takes on a look of late autumn with white clouds, red leaves and early frost. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant. This custom aims to dispel evils, and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220).

People of the Dong ethnic group in western Hunan province have the custom of making kippers during Cold Dew. It is said that the kipper made on the day of the Cold Dew with accessory foods such as rice wine, salt, glutinous rice, pepper powder, paprika powder and ginger are especially delicious.

Season for picking camellia seeds

Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. People are not allowed to go to the mountains to pick the seeds until Cold Dew comes around.