We are going to explore one of the most elegant and insightful creations of ancient Chinese civilisation — the 24 Solar Terms.
These seasonal markers, sometimes called “the 24 seasonal division points,” originated thousands of years ago in China and later spread across East and Southeast Asia. They’re based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar and are determined by the Sun’s position along the ecliptic, dividing the year into 24 equal segments.
In 2016, the 24 Solar Terms were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — a recognition of their enduring cultural and scientific value. They’re often celebrated as China’s “Fifth Great Invention.”
Why the Solar Terms Matter
By observing the rhythms of nature — the wind, the rain, the movement of animals, and the growth of plants — Chinese ancestors developed a system that guided nearly every aspect of daily life.
Agriculture, clothing, diet, housing, travel, health preservation, and even emotional wellbeing were all shaped by these seasonal cues.
Because the Earth–Sun distance changes throughout the year, the Sun’s speed along the ecliptic isn’t constant. That means the number of days between each Solar Term varies slightly. For example, Li Chun, the Beginning of Spring, may fall on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th.
The dates we mention here refer to the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasonal patterns are reversed.
The 24 Solar Terms
Let’s journey through the year, one Solar Term at a time.
Spring
1. Li Chun （立春）— Beginning of Spring (February 3, 4, or 5)
Yang energy begins to rise; plants start to sprout.
It’s the 1st Solar Term in Spring.
2. Yu Shui （雨水）— Rainwater (February 18, 19, or 20)
Rainfall gradually increases.
It’s the 2nd Solar Term in Spring.
3. Jing Zhe (惊蛰)— Waking of Insects (March 5, 6, or 7)
Thunder awakens insects and hibernating animals.
It’s the 3rd Solar Term in Spring.
4. Chun Fen （春分）— Spring Equinox (March 20, 21, or 22)
Day and night are nearly equal.
It’s the 4th Solar Term in Spring.
5. Qing Ming （清明）— Pure Brightness (April 4, 5, or 6)
Grass and trees flourish.
It’s the 5th Solar term in Spring.
6. Gu Yu （谷雨）— Grain Rain (April 19, 20, or 21)
Abundant rainfall supports crop growth.
It’s the 6th Solar Term in Spring.
Summer
7. Li Xia （立夏）— Beginning of Summer (May 5, 6, or 7)
Yang energy becomes strong and vibrant.
It’s the 1st Solar Term in Summer.
8. Xiao Man（小满）— Lesser Fullness of Grains (May 20, 21, or 22)
Summer crops begin to plump.
It’s the 2nd Solar Term in Summer.
9. Mang Zhong （芒种）— Grain in Beard (June 5, 6, or 7)
Wheat and other crops ripen for harvest.
It’s the 3rd Solar Term in Summer.
10. Xia Zhi （夏至）— Summer Solstice (June 21 or 22)
The longest day and shortest night of the year.
It’s the 4th Solar Term in Summer.
11. Xiao Shu （小暑）— Lesser Heat (July 6, 7, or 8)
Temperatures continue to rise.
It’s the 5th Solar Term in Summer.
12. Da Shu （大暑）— Greater Heat (July 22, 23, or 24)
The hottest period of the year.
It’s the 6th Solar Term in Summer.
Autumn
13. Li Qiu （立秋）— Beginning of Autumn (August 7, 8, or 9)
Leaves begin to fall, Yang energy declines.
It’s the 1st Solar Term in Autumn.
14. Chu Shu （处暑）— End of Heat (August 22, 23, or 24)
The intense summer heat subsides.
It’s the 2nd Solar Term in Autumn.
15. Bai Lu （白露）— White Dew (September 7, 8, or 9)
Cooler temperatures allow dew to form.
It’s the 3rd Solar Term in Autumn.
16. Qiu Fen （秋分）— Autumn Equinox (September 22, 23, or 24)
Day and night are equal once again.
It’s the 4th Solar Term in Autumn.
17. Han Lu （寒露）— Cold Dew (October 7, 8, or 9)
Temperatures drop between dew and frost levels.
It’s the 5th Solar Term in Autumn.
18. Shuang Jiang (霜降)— Frost Descent (October 23 or 24)
The first frost appears.
It’s the 6th Solar Term in Autumn.
Winter
19. Li Dong （立冬）— Beginning of Winter (November 7 or 8)
Yin energy strengthens; the cold deepens.
It’s the 1st Solar Term in Winter.
20. Xiao Xue（小雪） — Lesser Snow (November 22 or 23)
Snow begins to fall.
It’s the 2nd Solar Term in Winter.
21. Da Xue （大雪）— Greater Snow (December 6, 7, or 8)
Snowfall becomes heavier and more frequent.
It’s the 3rd Solar Term in Winter.
22. Dong Zhi （冬至）— Winter Solstice (December 21, 22, or 23)
The shortest day and longest night of the year.
It’s the 4th Solar Term in Winter.
23. Xiao Han （小寒）— Lesser Cold (January 5, 6, or 7)
Freezing weather sets in. It marks the beginning of the deepest winter period.
It’s the 5th Solar Term in Winter.
24. Da Han （大寒）— Greater Cold (January 20 or 21)
It is typically the coldest period of the year.
It’s the 6th Solar Term in Winter.
Natural phenomena vary from region to region, so local experiences of each Solar Term may differ slightly. But across cultures and centuries, the 24 Solar Terms continue to offer a poetic, practical way to stay connected with the rhythms of the Earth.
This is more than an ancient farmer’s almanac. It is a narrative framework for existence. A philosophy written in seasons. Each Solar Term was a guide—for when to plant and when to harvest, when to preserve the body with warming foods, and when to align the spirit with the world’s quiet introspection.
A fisherman on the southern coast and a wheat farmer on the northern plain lived different lives. But they both lived by this same, celestial story. They knew the name of the rain that fed them and the frost that warned them.
In our world of controlled climates and perpetual light, we have forgotten how to listen for these breaths. But the rhythm is still there. The Earth is still telling its story, one of twenty-four exquisite chapters, in an endless, revolving book.
Chinese Magic Healing Wand 