Solar terms in 2001
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2001, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 02:49 PM | Jan 5 06:49 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 08:16 AM | Jan 20 12:16 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 02:29 AM | Feb 3 06:29 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 10:27 PM | Feb 18 02:27 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 08:32 PM | Mar 5 12:32 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 09:30 PM | Mar 20 01:30 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 01:24 AM | Apr 4 05:24 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 08:35 AM | Apr 20 12:35 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 06:45 PM | May 5 10:45 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 07:44 AM | May 20 11:44 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 10:53 PM | Jun 5 02:53 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 03:37 PM | Jun 21 07:37 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 09:06 AM | Jul 7 01:06 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 02:26 AM | Jul 22 06:26 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 06:52 PM | Aug 7 10:52 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 09:27 AM | Aug 23 01:27 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 09:46 PM | Sep 7 01:46 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 07:04 AM | Sep 22 11:04 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 01:24 PM | Oct 8 05:24 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 04:25 PM | Oct 23 08:25 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 04:36 PM | Nov 7 08:36 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 02:00 PM | Nov 22 06:00 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 09:28 AM | Dec 7 01:28 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 03:21 AM | Dec 21 07:21 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.