Lidong Start of Winter: Dates, Seasonal Meaning and Local Customs

Diterbitkan oleh Anthony
pada November 14, 2026

Find the date of Lidong, the Start of Winter solar term, and see how late rice harvests, northern dumplings and Taiwanese ginger duck mark the change of season.

Quick Answer: When Is Lidong?

Lidong (立冬, Lìdōng), or Start of Winter, is the 19th of the 24 solar terms. It begins when the Sun’s apparent longitude reaches 225 degrees, usually on November 7 or 8. The Hong Kong Observatory places Lidong on November 7 in both 2026 and 2027. ^[1][2][3][4]

Calendar meaning: Lidong opens winter in the traditional solar-term sequence. ^[1][4]
Work in the fields: Some regions prepare crops for winter while others finish autumn harvests or continue sowing. ^[5][6]
Foods: Regional examples include northern dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi) and Taiwan’s ginger duck (薑母鴨, jiāngmǔyā). ^[4][7]

The solar term gives a shared date. Seasonal weather and customs vary by place.

Four illustrated notes on Lidong fieldwork and seasonal foods

Around Lidong, farmland in northeast China can begin to freeze while late rice is still being harvested and dried farther south. The same solar term can describe the turn toward winter across both settings. What people do depends on the crop and the local climate. ^[5][6]

Why Lidong Comes in Early November

The Hong Kong Observatory lists Lidong as Winter Commences. It follows Frost Descent at 210 degrees and precedes Minor Snow at 240 degrees. These are successive steps in the 24 solar terms, which are spaced 15 degrees apart. ^[1]

November 7 fell on day 29 of the ninth lunar month in 2026. In 2027 it falls on day ten of the tenth month. The term keeps roughly the same Gregorian date because it follows the Sun. The lunar day changes according to the timing of the month’s new moon. ^[1][2][3]

What Farmers Can Be Doing at Lidong

A seasonal farming guide from China Weather Network describes fields entering their overwintering period in the northeast. In parts of Jiangnan, the guide describes late sowing of winter wheat and transplanting of rapeseed. Beijing’s landscape bureau also describes harvesting and drying late rice in southern areas before storage. These tasks can overlap across the country because crop calendars respond to local growing conditions. ^[5][6]

Between the northeast and the southern rice districts, the Jianghuai region was traditionally nearing the end of a series of autumn tasks. The Beijing bureau describes these as harvesting, tending crops and sowing. That sequence helps explain why the term could mark the end of one farm season without putting an end to planting everywhere. ^[5][6]

The Hong Kong Observatory uses a separate seasonal division to compare weather from year to year. The Observatory uses September through November as autumn and December through February as winter for its climate statistics. Lidong still comes in early November as the first of the traditional winter solar terms. ^[1][8]

Dumplings, Ginger Duck and Winter Meals

In northern China, dumplings can mark the meeting of autumn and winter. A Zhejiang cultural account singles out an old Tianjin custom of making dumplings with pumpkin filling. It also describes Lidong rice in Guangdong’s Chaoshan region. A local version uses ingredients such as chestnuts, mushrooms and shrimp, and sugarcane is another seasonal food. ^[4]

Taiwan’s agriculture education material describes replenishing for winter (補冬, bǔdōng) as a Lidong food custom. A pot of ginger duck is one example. The ministry’s food account also names lamb hot pot and sesame-oil chicken. These dishes can mark the season even when early November still feels mild. ^[7][9]

FAQs About Lidong

Is Lidong the same as the winter solstice?

Lidong opens the traditional winter sequence at 225 degrees of solar longitude. The winter solstice occurs later at 270 degrees, around December 21 or 22. ^[1][2][3]

Is Lidong a fixed lunar date?

Lidong is set by the Sun’s apparent longitude. Its lunar date can fall in different months in different years, as the 2026 and 2027 tables show. ^[1][2][3]