Ned Stark would be the first to tell you that the coming of winter can be a pain in the neck, so it is important that one prepares for the dry, cold, grey months ahead. I may not be the most observant person, but aside from the drop in temperature, I have noticed some other signs that show us when the cruel mistress we call Winter is well and truly on her way:
1. Candied fruit
As the temperature cools, it is only a matter of time before swarms of street vendors start selling 糖葫芦(Tang hu lu). The candied fruit on a stick is traditionally Chinese hawthorn coated in sugar, but a lot of the stalls now sell cherry tomatoes, strawberries and pineapple, which I feel could help people meet the recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetable intake for a healthy lifestyle.
2. Getting flap-slapped
Another sure sign that winter is arriving is when you notice establishments hanging large, thick, cumbersome curtains over the entrance to buildings. The main aim of these chunky drapes is to keep out the cold, however from personal experience, I have noted the following issues with the curtains:
a) Fumbling your way through the curtain can often end in an awkward collision or an accidental grope with a person on the other side of the curtain.
b) If a person ahead of you releases the curtain as you are walking through the doorway, you can end up taking some seriously heavy fabric to the face. A beefy curtain slap is the last thing you want on a cold day. But it wouldn't be a true Beijing winter without getting flap-slapped.
When winter comes along, I get an incredible amount of static electric shocks. It may be the work of an electric demon stalking me and taunting me with its painful shocks. But more likely, it's the synthetic material of my winter coat building up a powerful electric charge as I shuffle around the city. I have to pay particular attention around escalators and taxi doors. It's not a pleasant sensation but there's nothing quite like an electric shock to blast away the winter chills.
4. Street sweet potatoes
It's a bittersweet moment when the street vendors start selling sweet potatoes around the city. Yes, you have easy access to a cheap and deliciously warming snack, but it is also a harsh reminder that the heat of summer is rapidly diminishing. Wipe away those frozen tears and grab a tasty baked potato. It certainly makes the colder weather more bearable.
5. Cold weather bike accessories
6. Barmy for lip balm
There is no time to feel bored during the cold days of winter. You will be kept busy by the incessant need to apply lip balm and other moisturisers, in a vain attempt to prevent oneself from drying up into a flaky husk. The lip balm activities are mainly focused around:
a) Wincing in pain when you crack a smile and your chapped lips burst open.
b) Militantly applying lip balm every five minutes and getting the occasional comment from a friend that perhaps you have applied it too aggressively and it now covers your entire lower face.
c) Constantly checking where your lip balm is, resulting in anxiety attacks if it cannot be located. This can also create a panic-driven, bulk buying situation whenever you are in a shop that sells lip balm - you will always need those 'back-up balms'!
7. Counting down to Central Heating Day
Autumn is officially over when you start to notice that it is colder in your apartment than it is outside. November the 15th is the official date for when Beijing officially turns on the government-subsidised central heating system. If you cannot wait until Central Heating Day (供暖日) then you have to huddle around an electric heater and clutch a hot water bottle, while staring longingly at the calendar. Once the central heating system is switched on, it stays on until March the 15th!
Take care this winter wherever you are!
