Solar terms in 2014
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2014, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 06:24 PM | Jan 5 10:24 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 11:51 AM | Jan 20 03:51 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 06:03 AM | Feb 3 10:03 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 01:59 AM | Feb 18 05:59 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 12:01 AM | Mar 5 04:01 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 12:56 AM | Mar 20 04:56 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 04:46 AM | Apr 4 08:46 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 11:55 AM | Apr 20 03:55 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 09:59 PM | May 5 01:59 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 10:59 AM | May 21 02:59 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 02:03 AM | Jun 5 06:03 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 06:51 PM | Jun 21 10:51 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 12:14 PM | Jul 7 04:14 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 05:41 AM | Jul 22 09:41 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 10:02 PM | Aug 7 02:02 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 12:46 PM | Aug 23 04:46 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 01:01 AM | Sep 7 05:01 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 10:29 AM | Sep 23 02:29 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 04:47 PM | Oct 8 08:47 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 07:57 PM | Oct 23 11:57 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 08:06 PM | Nov 7 12:06 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 05:38 PM | Nov 22 09:38 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 01:04 PM | Dec 7 05:04 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 07:02 AM | Dec 21 11:02 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.