Summer solstice marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year.

In ancient China, the summer solstice coincided with the harvest season for wheat, and so it was customary to engage in “​earth worship” rituals during this special time.

TCM health suggestions

Achieving a balance between yin and yang is considered important in traditional Chinese culture. Recall that yang is used to refer to bright, active energy, while yin refers to dark, passive energy. 

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the summer solstice has the strongest yang energy of the year. Therefore, during the summer solstice, it is important to protect one’s yin and yang balance from being destabilized by too much yang.

During the summer solstice and the following summer months, everyone is advised to follow certain rules in order to maintain optimal health. We’ve outlined some of these traditional guidelines below. 

1. Sleep patterns

During the summer solstice, people are traditionally encouraged to sleep late and wake up early, before taking an afternoon nap to energize themselves. It’s also said to be best to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.

2. Exercise

During the summer solstice, it’s recommended to only exercise early in the morning or late at night. Exercise should be light, with the most promoted activities being tai chi, walking, dancing and slow jogs.

3. Food

A lot of emphasis is placed on foods that can help reduce the amount of internal heat in the body to help provide protection against the hot weather. Apart from the traditional foods, it is highly encouraged to eat lighter foods that are plain during the summer solstice period.

Bitter foods are especially recommended as they are believed to help decrease the heat in one’s body. Dishes that include bitter melon are popular at this time of year.

Try it yourself 

Now that you know all about the summer solstice in China, why not try some of the delicious traditional summer solstice dishes or put some TCM summer solstice lifestyle advice into practice the next time the summer solstice comes around?