July seems rather intimidating as the two solar terms in traditional Chinese calendar that mark the hottest period of the year fall into this month. They are Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) and Major Heat (Dashu).

Minor Heat, the 11th solar term of the year, begins on July 7 this year and ends on July 22. Next comes the 12th solar term Major Heat, which is between July 23 and August 7.

In China, there is even an umbrella term, "Ku Xia," literally meaning bitterness in summer, for symptoms like loss of appetite and body weight, languidness and fatigue, and low fever in the scorching heat of summer days.