Start of Winter (Lìdōng)
Winter begins. In Taiwan, tonic nourishment on Start of Winter is a beloved folk tradition.
Start of Winter (Lìdōng) — Dates by Year
| Year | Gregorian Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11/7 | Thu |
| 2025 | 11/7 | Fri |
| 2026← this year | 11/7 | Sat |
| 2027 | 11/7 | Sun |
| 2028 | 11/7 | Tue |
| 2029 | 11/7 | Wed |
| 2030 | 11/7 | Thu |
Introduction
Start of Winter (Lìdōng) is the nineteenth solar term, occurring around November 7–8 when the sun reaches 225°, marking winter's official beginning. "Lìdōng" means winter starts — all creatures enter dormancy and yin energy prevails. Ancient emperors led officials outside the city walls in a ceremony "welcoming winter," rewarding troops in preparation for the cold. Start of Winter is the pivotal turning point from autumn to winter.
Taiwan's Tonic Culture
"Bǔ dōng, bǔ zuǐ kōng" — "Patch winter, fill your mouth" — is Taiwan's most famous Start of Winter proverb, and tonic nourishment on this day is a nationwide custom. Chinese medicine shops and supermarkets offer Start of Winter tonic sets. The most popular tonic dishes: sesame oil chicken, ginger duck (duck with rice wine and old ginger), lamb hot pot (lamb with herbal ingredients), and rice wine chicken. Long queues form outside tonic shops on this day.
Chinese Medicine Principles
Chinese medicine holds that winter is the season of "storing and nourishing" — following nature's impulse to close and conserve energy. Winter tonic foods boost immunity and strengthen the body, laying the groundwork for spring's vitality. Tonic approaches vary by constitution: cold types benefit from warming tonics (lamb, ginger, longan); yin-deficient types benefit from cooling tonics (white wood ear, lotus seeds, wolfberries). Consulting a TCM physician is always wise.
Climate & Wellness
Around Start of Winter, northern Taiwan temperatures drop to 12–20°C; central-southern Taiwan averages 15–22°C. The northeast monsoon strengthens, bringing wind and rain to the north and east coasts. Sleep earlier and wake later — follow winter's "storing" principle. Keep the neck, back, and ankles warm. Middle-aged and elderly people should pay special attention to cardiovascular health during cold snaps, which can trigger elevated blood pressure and cardiac events.