After maoshi, the temperature in Xinjiang begins to rise, as time quietly slips into shishi: the "Hour of Eating".

卯时过后，新疆的气温开始上升，时间悄然进入“食时”，也就是用餐时刻。

In ancient China, this was the moment when families gathered around for the first meal of the day. Between 7 and 9 am, breakfast was more than a meal; it was a ritual: of steam, scent, and the quiet joy of shared smiles. A moment when the world felt soft, and hearts began to stir. In the reckoning of the Earthly Branches, this same hour is called chenshi.

在中国古代，这是一家人聚在一起吃早餐的时刻。 早上7点到9点之间，早餐不仅仅是一顿饭；更是一种仪式：蒸汽、香味和微笑带来的平静的快乐。 那一刻，世界变得柔软，人心开始悸动。 在地支历法中，这个时间段被称为“辰时”。

Sun Hao is among the city's earliest risers. And for over 30 years, his day has begun the same way: a gentle breakfast with his wife.

孙浩是这个城市最早起床的人之一。 30多年来，他的一天都以同样的方式开启：和妻子一起吃顿惬意的早餐。

Life isn't always about big gestures. It's these ordinary, repeating details, that gather into warmth.

生活并不总有大事发生。 正是这些平凡、重复的细节，汇聚成温暖。

As the roads fill, the city takes an even deeper breath. The rhythm picks up, but the warmth remains.

道路逐渐被填满，城市气息渐浓。 节奏加快，但温暖依旧。

素材来源：iYuba