The dog days of summer are upon us
By Ned Kelly
The bad news: Its passing heralds the beginning of sanfu, the hottest period of the year—China's dog days of summer.
Goodbye Plum Rains
First up, some plum rains 2025 facts and figures:
Shanghai's plum rain season officially ended yesterday, June 29
It started on June 7 – 12 days earlier than usual
It lasted 22 days – one day shorter than usual
The rainfall this plum rain season was roughly 10% more than average
READ MORE: Month of Downpours Ahead as Plum Rains Hit Shanghai
Hello Sanfu 三伏
Brace yourselves – sanfu comin'!
Expect soaring heat, with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius in some parts of the city by the end of the week.
Image via The Weather Channel
So what is sanfu?
Sanfu is used to describe the sweltering days of summer, and refers to three roughly 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest of the year:
Toufu 头伏 – the first period
Zhongfu 中伏 – the middle period
Mofu 末伏 – the final period
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, sanfu falls between mid-July and August every year, and can last anywhere between 30-40 days.
San (三) is the Chinese word for three, while fu (伏) has several meanings; it can be used to say 'lie down,' but can also mean to 'hide' or 'conceal.'
Some people take the meaning of 'lying down' and 'hiding' literally in this sense, and suggest that during sanfu we should hide at home and do as little as possible.
During sanfu, Chinese people will also eat different foods to combat the heat: Cold foods such as watermelons, cucumbers, bitter melons, mung beans and lotus pods to beat the heat; and also baked pancakes and fried eggs—flour-made foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, which can replenish the nutrition people lose after sweating.
Weather warnings are commonly issued throughout the period due to high temperatures, and residents are advised to reduce outdoor activities during times of peak heat when the sun is at its hottest.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough weather drama for you—thunderstorms are still predicted to hit the city from time to time during sanfu.
Fun times ahead!
[Cover image via That's]
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