Solar terms in 1999
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1999, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 03:17 AM | Jan 5 07:17 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 08:37 PM | Jan 20 12:37 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 02:57 PM | Feb 4 06:57 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 10:47 AM | Feb 19 02:47 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 08:58 AM | Mar 6 12:58 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 09:46 AM | Mar 21 01:46 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 01:44 PM | Apr 5 05:44 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 08:46 PM | Apr 20 12:46 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 07:01 AM | May 5 11:01 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 07:52 PM | May 21 11:52 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 11:09 AM | Jun 6 03:09 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 03:49 AM | Jun 21 07:49 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 09:25 PM | Jul 7 01:25 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 02:44 PM | Jul 23 06:44 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 07:14 AM | Aug 7 11:14 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 09:51 PM | Aug 23 01:51 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 10:10 AM | Sep 8 02:10 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 07:31 PM | Sep 23 11:31 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 9 01:48 AM | Oct 8 05:48 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 04:52 AM | Oct 23 08:52 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 04:58 AM | Nov 7 08:58 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 23 02:25 AM | Nov 22 06:25 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 09:48 PM | Dec 7 01:48 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 03:44 PM | Dec 22 07:44 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.