Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: The Beijing News | Byline: Dai Xuan (戴轩) and Li Muyi (李木易) | July 16, 2026

The sanfu, or dog-days, period officially began on July 15. This year’s “extended” period is 10 days longer than usual.

7月15日正式入伏，今年迎来“加长版”伏天，比往年多出10天。

The National Health Commission held a press conference today and reminded the public to take precautions against the heat when summer temperatures are at their peak and heat and humidity combine. Experts also offered public-health guidance on questions such as whether older people can use air conditioning and what to do after a cat or dog scratch or bite in summer.

国家卫生健康委今日召开新闻发布会，提醒在暑气最盛、湿热交织的时节，应当注意防暑降温。针对老年人能否开空调、夏季被猫狗抓咬伤后如何处置等问题，专家进行了科普提醒。

An “extended” sanfu period this year: protect your health in the summer heat

今年遇上“加长版”伏天，暑日注意养生

National Health Commission spokesperson Hu Qiangqiang said that during the Minor Heat and Major Heat solar terms, summer heat is at its most intense and combines with humidity. This is when temperatures are highest and the weather feels muggiest all year, and it is also a critical period for preventing summer illnesses and maintaining health. People should take precautions against the heat and arrange their schedules and outdoor activities sensibly.

国家卫生健康委新闻发言人胡强强介绍，小暑、大暑节气期间，暑气最盛，湿热交织，是全年气温最高、体感最闷热的时候，也是夏季疾病防控、健康养护的关键时间，市民应注意防暑降温，合理安排作息和户外活动。

Wang Hongbing, a member of the National Expert Pool for Health Science Popularization and a chief physician at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, wrote on the Healthy China WeChat account that, as part of the normal calendar cycle, this year’s sanfu period is an “extended” 40 days—10 full days longer than last year—and will run from July 15 through August 23.

国家健康科普专家库成员、首都医科大学附属北京中医医院主任医师汪红兵在“健康中国”微信公众号发文介绍，由于是正常的历法循环，今年的三伏天是40天的“加长版”，比去年多出整整10天，将从7月15日持续到8月23日。

He advised that staying healthy during sanfu requires not only preventing heat illness but also emotional self-care, appropriate exercise and a proper diet; people may also practice the TCM therapy of treating winter ailments in summer. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the Heart opens into the tongue, corresponds to bitterness among the five flavors, has joy as its associated emotion and sweat as its bodily fluid, and corresponds to summer among the four seasons. Nourishing the Heart is therefore especially important in summer, and people should maintain a happy mood and stable emotions. Suitable summer exercise includes swimming, tai chi, Baduanjin and walking. Avoid the hottest hours with the strongest sunlight, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and reduce exercise intensity appropriately.

他提醒，伏天养生，除了防暑降温，也要注意情志调养、适当运动、饮食得当，同时可进行冬病夏治。中医认为，心开窍于舌，通五味之苦，在志为喜，其在液为汗，应四时之夏，因此，夏季养心非常重要，应该保持心情愉悦、情绪平稳。夏季运动适合的项目包括游泳、太极拳、八段锦、散步等，注意避开气温最高、阳光最强烈的时段（11时至16时），且强度要适当降低。

People with a deficiency-cold pattern may use sanfu acupoint herbal patches as part of treating winter ailments in summer; the patches are intended to warm the Lung and dispel cold, regulate qi and relieve pain. They are not suitable, however, for people with yin deficiency and effulgent fire or a damp-heat constitution, nor for those with fever, broken skin or drug allergies, pregnant women or very young infants. Before applying the patches, people should go to a medical institution and have a TCM practitioner perform pattern differentiation.

对于虚寒证人群，可使用三伏贴进行冬病夏治，发挥温肺散寒、行气止痛的作用。不过阴虚火旺、湿热体质者并不适宜，发热、皮肤破损、药物过敏者、孕妇、低龄婴幼儿不宜贴敷。贴敷前应当前往医疗机构经由中医师辨证后方可使用。

In the pediatrics department of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a doctor explains the placement of sanfu patches to the parent of a young patient. Photo by Beijing News reporter Li Muyi.

北京中医医院儿科，医生向患儿家长讲解三伏贴贴敷位置。新京报记者 李木易 摄

Older people should also use air conditioning properly to escape the heat