The customary foods of the Beginning of Autumn include: eating autumn peaches, eating dumplings, eating farm cakes, eating crabs, and eating pumpkins.

1. Eating autumn peaches

During the Beginning of Autumn, it is popular in some places to eat autumn peaches. Autumn peach is a flat round peach with many fine hairs on its surface. It is said that eating autumn peaches can ward off evil spirits and keep your family safe and healthy. When eating, wash the autumn peaches, cut them into thin slices with a knife, and then taste them slowly.

2. Eating dumplings

During the Beginning of Autumn, eating dumplings is popular in northern areas. Dumplings are a traditional Chinese food shaped like a half-moon, which symbolizes reunion and harmony. During the Beginning of Autumn solar term, people will add some special ingredients to dumplings, such as pork, leeks, etc., to increase the taste of the dumplings. Eating dumplings expresses people's expectations for the autumn harvest and their cherishment of family.

3. Eating farm cakes

The Beginning of Autumn is a traditional farmer's solar term in China, so there is a custom of eating cakes in many places. Cake is a traditional farm snack, mainly made of rice flour, soy flour, sugar, peanuts and other raw materials. On the day of Beginning of Autumn, farmers will make homemade cakes for the whole family to enjoy together. Eating cakes represents the joy of harvest and blessings for agriculture.

4. Eating crabs

The beginning of autumn is the season when crabs are produced in large quantities. The crab meat is fresh and delicious, and is known as the taste of autumn. People in the south like to steam, boil or fry crabs with seasonings such as ginger and garlic to add flavor.

5. Eat pumpkins

During the Beginning of Autumn, pumpkins are eaten in some places. During the Beginning of Autumn, people will make pumpkin into various delicacies, such as pumpkin porridge, pumpkin pie, etc. The custom of eating pumpkins expresses people's gratitude for the autumn harvest and their best wishes for life.