Time to chill out

"The top priority is to keep warm. At this time, the weather is changeable, and the temperature often rises and falls sharply. Especially for the elderly, special attention should be paid to keeping the stomach and feet warm. It is best to develop the habit of soaking feet in hot water before going to bed to avoid suffering from bad circulation in later life. Proper intake of beef and mutton can increase energy. People should focus on food that nourishes the spleen and stomach. Newly harvested chestnuts are a good tonic for this season."

In Xi'an, Shaanxi province, the locals elevate the season with the fusion of persimmon and flour in the shape of the city's staple snack — persimmon huta paste.

In front of a food stall, an elder woman mixes peeled persimmon pulp and flour without adding a drop of water, stirs into a paste, and puts the batter into a portable device. This is a tool for frying the persimmon paste, similar to a flat spoon. The fried persimmons are golden on both sides, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

When it comes to preserving the taste of persimmons, locals in Fuping county, Shaanxi, take a different approach. The persimmons here are not fried, but naturally hung and dried. After Frost's Descent, persimmons go through 12 processes such as picking, screening, peeling, hanging, kneading, and frosting, and drying for 48 days. With bright and red pulp, a layer of white icing sugar is applied and they are hung up. These persimmons can be preserved for nearly eight months.

Perhaps, only the fiery red persimmons hanging under the eaves during Frost's Descent are one of the more pleasant reminders that the fall is about to depart.