Solar terms in 1991
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1991, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 04:28 AM | Jan 5 08:28 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 09:47 PM | Jan 20 01:47 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 04:08 PM | Feb 4 08:08 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 11:58 AM | Feb 19 03:58 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 10:12 AM | Mar 6 02:12 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 11:02 AM | Mar 21 03:02 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 03:04 PM | Apr 5 07:04 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 11:08 PM | Apr 20 02:08 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 09:26 AM | May 6 12:26 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 10:20 PM | May 21 01:20 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 01:38 PM | Jun 6 04:38 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 06:18 AM | Jun 21 09:18 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 11:52 PM | Jul 7 02:52 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 05:11 PM | Jul 23 08:11 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 09:37 AM | Aug 8 12:37 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 24 12:12 AM | Aug 23 03:12 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 12:27 PM | Sep 8 03:27 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 08:47 PM | Sep 23 12:47 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 9 03:01 AM | Oct 8 07:01 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 06:05 AM | Oct 23 10:05 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 06:08 AM | Nov 7 10:08 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 23 03:36 AM | Nov 22 07:36 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 10:56 PM | Dec 7 02:56 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 04:53 PM | Dec 22 08:53 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.