Solar terms in 1986
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1986, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 11:28 PM | Jan 5 03:28 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 04:46 PM | Jan 20 08:46 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 11:07 AM | Feb 4 03:07 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 06:57 AM | Feb 18 10:57 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 05:12 AM | Mar 5 09:12 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 06:02 AM | Mar 20 10:02 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 10:06 AM | Apr 5 02:06 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 05:12 PM | Apr 20 09:12 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 04:30 AM | May 5 07:30 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 05:27 PM | May 21 08:27 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 08:44 AM | Jun 5 11:44 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 01:29 AM | Jun 21 04:29 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 07:00 PM | Jul 7 10:00 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 12:24 PM | Jul 23 03:24 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 04:45 AM | Aug 7 07:45 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 07:25 PM | Aug 23 10:25 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 07:34 AM | Sep 7 10:34 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 03:59 PM | Sep 23 07:59 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 10:07 PM | Oct 8 02:07 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 01:14 AM | Oct 23 05:14 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 01:12 AM | Nov 7 05:12 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 10:43 PM | Nov 22 02:43 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 06:00 PM | Dec 7 10:00 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 12:01 PM | Dec 22 04:01 AM | 270° | The shortest day in the north. |
Each term is the moment the Sun reaches a set position, so its date is a calculation, not a custom. The names come from farming life in the Yellow River valley and fit other climates loosely.