Solar terms in 1996
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1996, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 09:31 AM | Jan 6 01:31 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 21 02:52 AM | Jan 20 06:52 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 09:08 PM | Feb 4 01:08 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 05:00 PM | Feb 19 09:00 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 03:09 PM | Mar 5 07:09 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 04:03 PM | Mar 20 08:03 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 08:02 PM | Apr 4 12:02 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 03:09 AM | Apr 19 07:09 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 01:26 PM | May 5 05:26 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 02:23 AM | May 20 06:23 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 05:40 PM | Jun 5 09:40 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 10:23 AM | Jun 21 02:23 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 03:59 AM | Jul 6 07:59 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 09:18 PM | Jul 22 01:18 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 01:49 PM | Aug 7 05:49 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 04:23 AM | Aug 22 08:23 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 04:42 PM | Sep 7 08:42 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 02:00 AM | Sep 22 06:00 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 08:19 AM | Oct 8 12:19 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 11:18 AM | Oct 23 03:18 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 11:26 AM | Nov 7 03:26 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 08:49 AM | Nov 22 12:49 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 04:14 AM | Dec 6 08:14 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 10:06 PM | Dec 21 02:06 PM | 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.