-
Minor Cold
Jan 5, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 09:08
Deep winter; the cold intensifies.
Seasonal food: Vegetable rice
-
Major Cold
Jan 20, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 02:32
The coldest time of year; winter nears its end.
Seasonal food: Laba porridge
-
Start of Spring
Feb 3, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 20:41
Spring begins and nature starts to revive.
Seasonal food: Spring rolls
-
Rain Water
Feb 18, Fri
Exact time (Beijing) 16:33
Temperatures rise and rainfall increases.
Seasonal food: Dragon's beard candy
-
Awakening of Insects
Mar 5, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 14:32
Spring thunder rolls and hibernating insects awaken.
Seasonal food: Rolling donkey rice cake
-
Spring Equinox
Mar 20, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 15:22
Day and night are nearly equal; spring deepens.
Seasonal food: Red bean tangyuan
-
Pure Brightness
Apr 4, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 19:08
Clear, warming weather; plants turn green.
Seasonal food: Green rice balls (qingtuan)
-
Grain Rain
Apr 20, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 02:13
Late-spring rains nourish the crops.
Seasonal food: Chinese toon shoots
-
Start of Summer
May 5, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 12:13
Summer begins and plants grow vigorously.
Seasonal food: Salted duck eggs
-
Grain Buds
May 21, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 01:10
Summer grains begin to fill out.
Seasonal food: Bitter greens
-
Grain in Ear
Jun 5, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 16:13
Wheat harvest and summer planting are in full swing.
Seasonal food: Plums
-
Summer Solstice
Jun 21, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 09:01
Longest day in the Northern Hemisphere; days shorten after.
Seasonal food: Noodles
-
Minor Heat
Jul 7, Thu
Exact time (Beijing) 02:24
Summer heat builds.
Seasonal food: Lotus root slices
-
Major Heat
Jul 22, Fri
Exact time (Beijing) 19:52
The hottest, most humid time of the year.
Seasonal food: Grass jelly
-
Start of Autumn
Aug 7, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 12:15
Autumn begins, though the heat lingers.
Seasonal food: Watermelon
-
End of Heat
Aug 23, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 03:01
The heat fades and it starts to cool.
Seasonal food: Duck
-
White Dew
Sep 7, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 15:20
Wider day-night swings; morning dew appears.
Seasonal food: Longan
-
Autumn Equinox
Sep 23, Fri
Exact time (Beijing) 00:51
Day and night are nearly equal; autumn deepens.
Seasonal food: Amaranth
-
Cold Dew
Oct 8, Sat
Exact time (Beijing) 07:13
Late autumn cools and the dew grows cold.
Seasonal food: Flower cake (huagao)
-
Frost's Descent
Oct 23, Sun
Exact time (Beijing) 10:27
Autumn ends; first frost in some areas.
Seasonal food: Persimmons
-
Start of Winter
Nov 7, Mon
Exact time (Beijing) 10:41
Winter begins and the cold deepens.
Seasonal food: Dumplings
-
Minor Snow
Nov 22, Tue
Exact time (Beijing) 08:16
Cold air grows active; snow begins in the north.
Seasonal food: Ciba rice cake
-
Major Snow
Dec 7, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 03:44
Midwinter; more snow in the north.
Seasonal food: Cured pork
-
Winter Solstice
Dec 21, Wed
Exact time (Beijing) 21:46
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.