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2006 Chinese Solar Terms

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  1. 小寒 Minor Cold Jan 5, Thu Exact time (Beijing) 19:46 Deep winter; the cold intensifies. Seasonal food: Vegetable rice
  2. 大寒 Major Cold Jan 20, Fri Exact time (Beijing) 13:15 The coldest time of year; winter nears its end. Seasonal food: Laba porridge
  3. 立春 Start of Spring Feb 4, Sat Exact time (Beijing) 07:27 Spring begins and nature starts to revive. Seasonal food: Spring rolls
  4. 雨水 Rain Water Feb 19, Sun Exact time (Beijing) 03:25 Temperatures rise and rainfall increases. Seasonal food: Dragon's beard candy
  5. 惊蛰 Awakening of Insects Mar 6, Mon Exact time (Beijing) 01:28 Spring thunder rolls and hibernating insects awaken. Seasonal food: Rolling donkey rice cake
  6. 春分 Spring Equinox Mar 21, Tue Exact time (Beijing) 02:25 Day and night are nearly equal; spring deepens. Seasonal food: Red bean tangyuan
  7. 清明 Pure Brightness Apr 5, Wed Exact time (Beijing) 06:15 Clear, warming weather; plants turn green. Seasonal food: Green rice balls (qingtuan)
  8. 谷雨 Grain Rain Apr 20, Thu Exact time (Beijing) 13:26 Late-spring rains nourish the crops. Seasonal food: Chinese toon shoots
  9. 立夏 Start of Summer May 5, Fri Exact time (Beijing) 23:30 Summer begins and plants grow vigorously. Seasonal food: Salted duck eggs
  10. 小满 Grain Buds May 21, Sun Exact time (Beijing) 12:31 Summer grains begin to fill out. Seasonal food: Bitter greens
  11. 芒种 Grain in Ear Jun 6, Tue Exact time (Beijing) 03:36 Wheat harvest and summer planting are in full swing. Seasonal food: Plums
  12. 夏至 Summer Solstice Jun 21, Wed Exact time (Beijing) 20:25 Longest day in the Northern Hemisphere; days shorten after. Seasonal food: Noodles
  13. 小暑 Minor Heat Jul 7, Fri Exact time (Beijing) 13:51 Summer heat builds. Seasonal food: Lotus root slices
  14. 大暑 Major Heat Jul 23, Sun Exact time (Beijing) 07:17 The hottest, most humid time of the year. Seasonal food: Grass jelly
  15. 立秋 Start of Autumn Aug 7, Mon Exact time (Beijing) 23:40 Autumn begins, though the heat lingers. Seasonal food: Watermelon
  16. 处暑 End of Heat Aug 23, Wed Exact time (Beijing) 14:22 The heat fades and it starts to cool. Seasonal food: Duck
  17. 白露 White Dew Sep 8, Fri Exact time (Beijing) 02:39 Wider day-night swings; morning dew appears. Seasonal food: Longan
  18. 秋分 Autumn Equinox Sep 23, Sat Exact time (Beijing) 12:03 Day and night are nearly equal; autumn deepens. Seasonal food: Amaranth
  19. 寒露 Cold Dew Oct 8, Sun Exact time (Beijing) 18:21 Late autumn cools and the dew grows cold. Seasonal food: Flower cake (huagao)
  20. 霜降 Frost's Descent Oct 23, Mon Exact time (Beijing) 21:26 Autumn ends; first frost in some areas. Seasonal food: Persimmons
  21. 立冬 Start of Winter Nov 7, Tue Exact time (Beijing) 21:34 Winter begins and the cold deepens. Seasonal food: Dumplings
  22. 小雪 Minor Snow Nov 22, Wed Exact time (Beijing) 19:01 Cold air grows active; snow begins in the north. Seasonal food: Ciba rice cake
  23. 大雪 Major Snow Dec 7, Thu Exact time (Beijing) 14:26 Midwinter; more snow in the north. Seasonal food: Cured pork
  24. 冬至 Winter Solstice Dec 22, Fri Exact time (Beijing) 08:22 Shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere; days lengthen after. Seasonal food: Dumplings

Times are Beijing time (UTC+8); the local date overseas may differ by one day.