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Minor Cold
Jan 5, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 10:32
Deep winter; the cold intensifies.
Seasonal food: Vegetable rice
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Major Cold
Jan 20, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 04:00
The coldest time of year; winter nears its end.
Seasonal food: Laba porridge
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Start of Spring
Feb 3, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 22:10
Spring begins and nature starts to revive.
Seasonal food: Spring rolls
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Rain Water
Feb 18, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 18:06
Temperatures rise and rainfall increases.
Seasonal food: Dragon's beard candy
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Awakening of Insects
Mar 5, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 16:07
Spring thunder rolls and hibernating insects awaken.
Seasonal food: Rolling donkey rice cake
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Spring Equinox
Mar 20, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 17:01
Day and night are nearly equal; spring deepens.
Seasonal food: Red bean tangyuan
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Pure Brightness
Apr 4, Fri
Exact time (Beijing) 20:48
Clear, warming weather; plants turn green.
Seasonal food: Green rice balls (qingtuan)
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Grain Rain
Apr 20, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 03:56
Late-spring rains nourish the crops.
Seasonal food: Chinese toon shoots
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Start of Summer
May 5, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 13:57
Summer begins and plants grow vigorously.
Seasonal food: Salted duck eggs
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Grain Buds
May 21, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 02:54
Summer grains begin to fill out.
Seasonal food: Bitter greens
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Grain in Ear
Jun 5, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 17:56
Wheat harvest and summer planting are in full swing.
Seasonal food: Plums
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Summer Solstice
Jun 21, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 10:42
Longest day in the Northern Hemisphere; days shorten after.
Seasonal food: Noodles
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Minor Heat
Jul 7, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 04:04
Summer heat builds.
Seasonal food: Lotus root slices
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Major Heat
Jul 22, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 21:29
The hottest, most humid time of the year.
Seasonal food: Grass jelly
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Start of Autumn
Aug 7, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 13:51
Autumn begins, though the heat lingers.
Seasonal food: Watermelon
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End of Heat
Aug 23, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 04:33
The heat fades and it starts to cool.
Seasonal food: Duck
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White Dew
Sep 7, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 16:51
Wider day-night swings; morning dew appears.
Seasonal food: Longan
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Autumn Equinox
Sep 23, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 02:19
Day and night are nearly equal; autumn deepens.
Seasonal food: Amaranth
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Cold Dew
Oct 8, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 08:41
Late autumn cools and the dew grows cold.
Seasonal food: Flower cake (huagao)
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Frost's Descent
Oct 23, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 11:50
Autumn ends; first frost in some areas.
Seasonal food: Persimmons
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Start of Winter
Nov 7, Fri
Exact time (Beijing) 12:04
Winter begins and the cold deepens.
Seasonal food: Dumplings
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Minor Snow
Nov 22, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 09:35
Cold air grows active; snow begins in the north.
Seasonal food: Ciba rice cake
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Major Snow
Dec 7, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 05:04
Midwinter; more snow in the north.
Seasonal food: Cured pork
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Winter Solstice
Dec 21, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 23:03
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.