Skip to main content

The 24 Solar Terms

Ancient wisdom marking the rhythm of nature through the seasons

Current Solar Term
🌸

Spring Equinox

Mar 19
On this day, the sun shines directly on the equator, making day and night equal in length.
Next Solar Term
Clear and Bright
Apr 4
14 days away
🌸 Spring
🌱

Beginning of Spring

Feb 4
Start of Spring
🌧️

Rain Water

Feb 18
Rising Rainfall
🐛

Awakening of Insects

Mar 5
Spring Thunder
🌸

Spring Equinox

Mar 19
Equal Day and Night
Current
🌿

Clear and Bright

Apr 4
Clear Weather
🌾

Grain Rain

Apr 19
Nourishing Crops
☀️ Summer
☀️

Beginning of Summer

May 5
Start of Summer
🌻

Grain Full

May 20
Growing Grains
🌾

Grain in Ear

Jun 5
Harvest Season
🌞

Summer Solstice

Jun 20
Longest Day
🔥

Minor Heat

Jul 6
Rising Heat
🌡️

Major Heat

Jul 22
Hottest Period
🍂 Autumn
🍂

Beginning of Autumn

Aug 6
Start of Autumn
🌅

End of Heat

Aug 22
Cooling Begins
💧

White Dew

Sep 7
Condensed Dew
🍁

Autumn Equinox

Sep 22
Equal Day and Night
🍃

Cold Dew

Oct 7
Chilly Dew
🌫️

Frost Descent

Oct 23
First Frost
❄️ Winter
🌨️

Beginning of Winter

Nov 6
Start of Winter
🌨️

Minor Snow

Nov 21
Light Snowfall
☃️

Major Snow

Dec 6
Heavy Snow
🎄

Winter Solstice

Dec 21
Shortest Day
❄️

Minor Cold

Jan 5
Increasing Cold
🥶

Major Cold

Jan 20
Extreme Cold

The 24 Solar Terms in Order

The full sequence, starting from the beginning of spring:

Spring: Start of Spring (Lichun) → Rain Water (Yushui) → Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) → Spring Equinox (Chunfen) → Clear and Bright (Qingming) → Grain Rain (Guyu)

Summer: Start of Summer (Lixia) → Grain Full (Xiaoman) → Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) → Summer Solstice (Xiazhi) → Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) → Major Heat (Dashu)

Autumn: Start of Autumn (Liqiu) → End of Heat (Chushu) → White Dew (Bailu) → Autumn Equinox (Qiufen) → Cold Dew (Hanlu) → Frost Descent (Shuangjian)

Winter: Start of Winter (Lidong) → Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) → Major Snow (Daxue) → Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) → Minor Cold (Xiaohan) → Major Cold (Dahan)

A classic Chinese mnemonic rhyme helps people memorize them. In English, you can remember the pattern: each season has six terms, starting with the "Start of [Season]," followed by terms describing rainfall, temperature, or agricultural markers, and closing with a solstice or equinox near the midpoint.

What to Eat During Each Solar Term

Every solar term has its own culinary tradition -- seasonal foods chosen to keep the body in balance with the weather:

Start of Spring: Spring pancakes (chunbing) and fresh sprouts. Rain Water: Congee and soup to ease the damp cold. Awakening of Insects: Pears to soothe the throat as the weather shifts. Spring Equinox: Spring rolls and leafy greens. Clear and Bright: Qingtuan (sweet green rice balls) and cold dishes. Grain Rain: Fresh tea leaves -- the season's very first harvest.

Start of Summer: Eggs and rice, symbolizing a strong start to the hot months. Grain Full: Bitter greens and barley to cool the body. Grain in Ear: Plums and sour foods. Summer Solstice: Cold noodles -- the classic summer staple. Minor Heat: Mung bean soup and lotus root. Major Heat: Watermelon, herbal teas, and anything to beat the heat.

Start of Autumn: Stewed meats to "put on autumn weight" (tiequpiao). End of Heat: Duck -- believed to clear lingering summer heat. White Dew: Longan fruit and sweet wine. Autumn Equinox: Crab -- it's peak crab season. Cold Dew: Sesame-based dishes and chrysanthemum tea. Frost Descent: Persimmons and warming stews.

Start of Winter: Dumplings in the north, braised chicken in the south. Minor Snow: Cured meats and pickled vegetables. Major Snow: Lamb soup and ginger tea. Winter Solstice: Tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) in the south, dumplings in the north -- the most celebrated food day of winter. Minor Cold: Laba congee (eight-treasure porridge). Major Cold: Sticky rice cake (niangao) and hearty hotpot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 24 Solar Terms?
The 24 solar terms are a timekeeping system developed in ancient China that divides the year into 24 segments based on the sun's position along the ecliptic. Each term marks a specific point -- every 15 degrees -- and reflects shifts in weather, temperature, and rainfall. They were originally created to guide farming but remain deeply embedded in Chinese culture, food customs, and traditional medicine. UNESCO added them to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.
Are Solar Terms part of the lunar or solar calendar?
Despite being part of the traditional Chinese calendar (which is often called the "lunar calendar"), the 24 solar terms actually follow the sun, not the moon. They're determined by the sun's position on the ecliptic, which is why their Gregorian dates are remarkably stable year to year -- usually falling within a one-to-two-day window. The Chinese calendar is technically a lunisolar system: months follow the moon, but solar terms track the sun.
What's the next Solar Term?
Check the "Current Solar Term" card at the top of this page -- it shows both the term we're currently in and the next one coming up, along with a countdown in days. Solar terms change roughly every 15 days, so there's always one just around the corner.
How are Solar Terms connected to the Chinese Almanac?
In the traditional Chinese almanac (huangli), solar terms serve as structural markers for the calendar. They define the boundaries of lunar months -- each month must contain one "Jie" (node term) and one "Qi" (mid-term). The almanac also assigns specific auspicious and inauspicious activities based partly on which solar term is active, making them integral to date selection for weddings, moving, and other life events.
Why are Solar Terms important for health?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views the human body as closely tied to seasonal rhythms. Each solar term brings different climate conditions -- humidity, dryness, heat, cold -- and TCM practitioners adjust dietary advice, herbal prescriptions, and lifestyle recommendations accordingly. For instance, during Major Heat you'd focus on cooling foods like mung bean soup, while during Winter Solstice the emphasis shifts to warming, tonifying dishes like lamb stew and ginger tea. It's about staying in tune with nature rather than fighting against it.