（source:xywy.com）

In the rural areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, porridge and tea are necessary foods for the Start of Summer. One style of porridge, called “qijia porridge”, is made of rice from all of the people living in a neighborhood and is shared by all of the neighbors. The neighbors will also contribute home-made tea and mix all of the tea together; everyone sits around and enjoys the tea together.

In Suzhou city, there is a proverb that says: “On the day of Start of Summer, people must eat three kinds of new foods.” These three kinds of new foods are cherry, green plum and wheat. In addition, people eat broad bean, salted duck egg and mustard. On that day, many restaurants often give home-made brewed wine to customers for free.

In Wuxi city, people eat different kinds of new-grown delicacies on Start of Summer. Three delicacies growing in the soil are cucumber, broad bean and amaranth; three delicacies growing on the trees are cherry, apricot and loquat; three delicacies in the sea are globefish, crucian and spiral shell.

In Hangzhou city, children will gather together on the day of Start of Summer and ask for rice and meat from their neighbors. The children will then dig out some wild herbs in the field and use a makeshift stove by using a stone to cook the meal. The meal is also called “outdoor summer rice”.

Source: chinanews.com

Translated by Jiang Yilingzi

Editor: Clark Cahill