Solar terms in 2017
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2017, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 11:56 AM | Jan 5 03:56 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 05:23 AM | Jan 19 09:23 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 3 11:34 PM | Feb 3 03:34 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 07:31 PM | Feb 18 11:31 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 05:33 PM | Mar 5 09:33 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 06:28 PM | Mar 20 10:28 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 10:17 PM | Apr 4 02:17 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 05:26 AM | Apr 19 09:26 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 03:31 PM | May 5 07:31 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 04:30 AM | May 20 08:30 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 07:36 PM | Jun 5 11:36 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 12:24 PM | Jun 21 04:24 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 05:50 AM | Jul 6 09:50 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 11:15 PM | Jul 22 03:15 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 03:39 PM | Aug 7 07:39 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 06:20 AM | Aug 22 10:20 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 06:38 PM | Sep 7 10:38 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 04:01 AM | Sep 22 08:01 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 10:21 AM | Oct 8 02:21 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 01:26 PM | Oct 23 05:26 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 01:37 PM | Nov 7 05:37 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 11:04 AM | Nov 22 03:04 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 06:32 AM | Dec 6 10:32 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 12:28 AM | Dec 21 04:28 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.