lì dōng立冬dào到le了，suàn算bú suàn不算jìn rù进入dōng tiān冬天？
The Beginning of Winter, known as “Lidong,” falls on November 7 or 8 every year.
In traditional Chinese culture, “li” means beginning, while “dong” represents the time when all things are stored away.
When Lidong arrives, it means autumn has passed and winter has officially begun.
The crops in the fields have already been harvested, animals begin preparing for hibernation, and nature gradually becomes quiet.
Many people may wonder: When Lidong arrives, has winter begun throughout the country?
Actually, that is not the case.
China is a very large country, and the weather differs greatly between the north and the south.
In many northern places, such as Heilongjiang and Beijing, cold winds have already begun to blow, rivers have frozen, and it may even have snowed heavily.
However, in the south, such as Guangdong, temperatures are often still above 20°C, and many people still wear short sleeves at noon.
Therefore, Lidong is more like a “preview” of winter, reminding everyone that the weather will soon turn colder.
As winter approaches, there are many interesting traditional customs.
People in the north like to eat steaming-hot dumplings on Lidong. People often say that this can protect their ears from frostbite. In the south, people like to “nourish themselves for winter”: families sit together and drink chicken soup or mutton soup to replenish their energy.
In daily life, after Lidong, people should pay more attention to keeping warm, go to bed earlier, and avoid overly strenuous exercise so that the body can rest well.
Lidong reminds us that the year’s busy activities are gradually coming to an end.
When the weather turns cold, remember to put on an extra layer, take good care of yourself, and welcome winter warmly.