Solar terms in 2011
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2011, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 12:54 AM | Jan 5 04:54 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 06:18 PM | Jan 20 10:18 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 12:32 PM | Feb 4 04:32 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 08:25 AM | Feb 19 12:25 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 06:29 AM | Mar 5 10:29 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 07:20 AM | Mar 20 11:20 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 11:11 AM | Apr 5 03:11 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 06:17 PM | Apr 20 10:17 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 04:22 AM | May 5 08:22 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 05:20 PM | May 21 09:20 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 08:27 AM | Jun 6 12:27 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 01:16 AM | Jun 21 05:16 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 06:41 PM | Jul 7 10:41 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 12:11 PM | Jul 23 04:11 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 04:33 AM | Aug 7 08:33 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 07:20 PM | Aug 23 11:20 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 07:34 AM | Sep 7 11:34 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 05:04 PM | Sep 23 09:04 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 11:19 PM | Oct 8 03:19 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 02:30 AM | Oct 23 06:30 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 02:35 AM | Nov 7 06:35 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 23 12:08 AM | Nov 22 04:08 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 07:29 PM | Dec 7 11:29 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 01:30 PM | Dec 22 05:30 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.