Liqiu (立秋 lì qiū), or Beginning of Autumn, begins on August 8th this year. It is the 13th of the 24 solar terms and the first one of the autumn season. In this episode, we show you different ways of Chinese people welcoming this solar term.

24 Solar Terms: How Chinese people welcome the Beginning of Autumn?

The 12th solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Dashu (大暑 dà shǔ), or Major Heat, begins on July 23rd this year. As the name suggests, Major Heat marks the peak of the summer season. In this episode, we show you an ancient Chinese people's brilliant solution to find relief in this "steaming and boiling" time of the year.

24 Solar Terms: Why Chinese people drink herbal tea during Major Heat?

The 11th solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Xiaoshu (小暑 xiǎo shǔ), or the Minor Heat, begins on July 7th this year. During Minor Heat, the temperature continues to rise, heralding the arrival of the hottest days of the year. In this episode, we show you ancient Chinese people's great ideas to stay cool in the hot summertime.

24 Solar Terms: How did ancient Chinese people beat the heat during Minor Heat?

Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on June 22nd this year. In this episode, we show you why Chinese people offer fans as gifts to others during the festival.

Why do Chinese people give fans as gifts during the Duanwu Festival?

The tenth solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Xiazhi (夏至 xià zhì), or the Summer Solstice, begins on June 21st this year. In this episode, we show you why noodles have become a representative food item of this solar term.

24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese people enjoy noodles on the Summer Solstice?

The ninth solar term in China, Mangzhong (芒种 máng zhòng), or Grain in Ear, is a time of bustling activity in agriculture. The name itself has profound meanings. In this episode, we show you why ox is related to this solar term.

24 Solar Terms: Why is the ox held in reverence during ‘Grain in Ear’?

The eighth solar term on the traditional Chinese calendar, Xiaoman (小满 xiǎo mǎn), or the Grain Buds, is the second solar term in summer. In this episode, we take you to the folklore of Lei Zu, who was revered as the "Silkworm Goddess". Legend said she discovered the art of raising silkworms and imparted the knowledge of creating exquisite silk garments to others.

24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese people worship 'Silkworm Goddess' on the 'Grain Buds'?

The seventh solar term in China, Lixia (立夏 lì xià), or the Start of Summer, marks the beginning of the summer season. In this episode, we take you to the fascinating story of Nu Wa, a Chinese goddess, using her wisdom to protect children. We'll also show you why Chinese children wear egg pouches and like to play the egg game on this day!

24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese children wear egg pouches on the Start of Summer?

Get ready to immerse yourself in this tale of love, loss, and the power of myth. In this episode, we dive into the enchanting legend of the sixth solar term in China, Grain Rain(谷雨 gǔ yǔ), and the tragic love story of a young man and a peony fairy. Why is the peony also known as the "Flower of Guyu" and what’s its cultural significance in Chinese tradition?

24 Solar Terms: Why is the peony also called the “Flower of Grain Rain” in China?

Come listen to what ChatGPT has to say about China's popular snack during the Qingming Festival! Today's episode is generated and narrated by AI tools, and it introduces you to Qingtuan, a unique type of food that has been served during the Qingming Festival since ancient times. What are the cultural meanings of this green rice ball, and why is it such an important part of China's Qingming Festival tradition? Travel with us on this AI guided tour and find out!

24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese eat Qingtuan during the Qingming Festival?

A Thousand Whys is tailor-made for curious minds about China and the Chinese culture.This podcast offers fascinating facts about what this ancient civilization has to offer, covering a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, literature and arts, lifestyle, science, and the natural world.Subscribe to learn "what are the Chinese ways and why", for free.

What exactly is a Chinese gentleman, and what are the essential traits that define the spirit of the "君子 Junzi"? In this episode, we will dive deep into the world of the "君子" and explore the key virtues and characteristics that have shaped Chinese culture for centuries.

Ancestors Told Us: What makes a Chinese gentleman?

According to the Five Elements of Chinese philosophy, spring is associated with the color green, the wood element, and the climate of wind. So we eat green vegetables, plant seeds, and fly kites. After a season of darkness and quietness, the spring equinox marks the beginning of spring. Let’s celebrate the time of rebirth.

24 Solar Terms: Let’s celebrate the time of rebirth

In ancient China, where a patriarchal society was the norm, did women have the opportunity to pursue career or political aspirations? What kind of roles did "female officials" play in the ancient Chinese dynasties?

What did ancient Chinese "female officials" do?

As March arrives, nature welcomes the third solar term "Jingzhe", or "the Awakening of Insects". What is it that awakens the insects in spring? What are the exciting folk customs in China during this time of year?

24 Solar Terms: What do insects have to do with villains?

There is an ancient Chinese saying, “春雨贵如油，the spring rain is as precious as oil,” but why and how is the rain in spring is so important? What interesting customs take place during the solar term “Rain Water”?

24 Solar Terms: Why Chinese believe “Spring rain is as precious as oil”?

Whether humans are born with an innately good or evil nature is still an ongoing debate after thousands of years of discussions. Today, we’ll travel back to ancient China, and find out how some of China’s most renowned philosophers answered this question!

Ancestors Told Us: Is human nature good or evil?

In almost every culture, there exist myths regarding floods. In China, the story of Yu the Great has been told for centuries and has inspired generations of Chinese people to better manage water and find ways to coexist with Mother Nature. Check out this episode of A Thousand Whys and get a feel for how one flood myth has been teaching Chinese people to keep floods at bay.

Ancestors Told Us: What can China’s flood myth teach us about water management?

As one of the most common elements of daily life, water is one of the root metaphors in Chinese culture and wisdom. What is the Chinese “way of water”? How does the way we perceive water affect our self-identity?

Ancestors Told Us: What can we learn from water?

February 4th sees the arrival of the first of this year’s traditional Chinese solar terms, named Lichun, usually translated into English as the “Beginning of Spring.” In ancient times, this particular day was seen as the prelude to a whole host of seasonal activities to welcome the coming spring. Tune into today’s episode to hear more about how the Chinese celebrate Lichun!

24 Solar Terms: How the Chinese mark the “Beginning of Spring”?

During the Chinese New Year, known as Spring Festival in the country, one of the most popular greetings is 恭喜发财，which translates as ‘Wishing you Prosperity and Wealth’. How did this greeting come about? Who is the Chinese God of Wealth? When do Chinese people welcome this propitious God? What stories are told about this deity? Why do Chinese people give red envelopes during the Spring Festival? This episode brings you all the things you need to know about wealth and the Chinese New Year.

Who is the God of Wealth in Chinese folk customs?

made fun

A Thousand Whys is tailor-made for curious minds about China and the Chinese culture.<br>This podcast offers fascinating facts about what this ancient civilization has to offer, covering a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, literature and arts, lifestyle, science, and the natural world.<br>Subscribe to learn "what are the Chinese ways and why", for free.

A Thousand Whys

An order of noodle, or a bowl of rice? That's a question. But, maybe not to the Chinese people - well, at least in the traditional impression about our dietary customs which goes like "northerners like eating noodles, while southerners prefer the rice." However, the real situation might not be so absolute and simple. Follow Shen Ting to explore more about Chinese people's choices on noodles and rice.

Noodle or rice?

Magpies don’t have the best of reputations, being known as the scavenger, predator, thief, attacker and even a sign of bad luck in some cultures.But folktales in China tell a different story about magpies that symbolize joy, good luck, happiness and fortune.Want to share a bit of magpie luck?

Magpies don’t have the best of reputations, being known as the scavenger, predator, thief, attacker and even a sign of bad luck in some cultures.<br>But folktales in China tell a different story about magpies that symbolize joy, good luck, happiness and fortune.<br>Want to share a bit of magpie luck?

How do I love thee, magpies?

Turn to ancient Chinese wisdom for fun games to play if you want to take a break from the digital world. Families with young kids in particular would love them.

Feeling bored? Try these traditional Chinese games

Let’s celebrate the time of rebirth

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