Start of Winter (Lidong) is the first solar term of winter. Chinese medicine calls this the season of “winter storing”: go to bed early, rise late, and gather your energy back in.
In 2026, Start of Winter (Lidong) falls on November 7. From this day on, nature enters its season of “closing and storing”: plants wither, and animals settle in to hibernate.
Winter storing: early to bed, and wait for the sun
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic (Huangdi Neijing) advises that in winter we should “go to bed early and rise late, waiting for the sunlight.” In other words, turn in a little earlier at night, get up after the sun is out, and avoid running yourself down.
Three things for Start of Winter
Eat: lamb and daikon soup, black sesame and walnuts, keeping things warm. Stay warm: always keep three spots covered, your feet, your lower back and the back of your neck. Move: exercise just to the point of a light sweat. The sixth movement of Baduanjin (the Eight Brocades qigong routine), “Two Hands Reach for the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys and Waist,” is a lovely one to practice in winter.
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Keep reading
- Frost's Descent (Shuangjiang): How to Move Through Autumn's Final Solar Term
- The Foot Soak: A Chinese Grandma's Bedtime Ritual
- Chinamaxxing: Why the West Is Suddenly Drinking Hot Water
We don't promise. We don't cure. We align. This article is for everyday wellness and cultural education only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a health concern, talk with your doctor first.
