Solar terms in 2018
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2018, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 05:49 PM | Jan 5 09:49 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 11:09 AM | Jan 20 03:09 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 05:28 AM | Feb 3 09:28 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 01:18 AM | Feb 18 05:18 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 11:28 PM | Mar 5 03:28 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 12:15 AM | Mar 20 04:15 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 04:12 AM | Apr 4 08:12 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 11:12 AM | Apr 20 03:12 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 09:25 PM | May 5 01:25 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 10:14 AM | May 21 02:14 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 01:29 AM | Jun 5 05:29 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 06:07 PM | Jun 21 10:07 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 11:41 AM | Jul 7 03:41 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 05:00 AM | Jul 22 09:00 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 09:30 PM | Aug 7 01:30 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 12:08 PM | Aug 23 04:08 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 12:29 AM | Sep 7 04:29 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 09:54 AM | Sep 23 01:54 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 04:14 PM | Oct 8 08:14 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 07:22 PM | Oct 23 11:22 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 07:31 PM | Nov 7 11:31 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 05:00 PM | Nov 22 09:00 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 12:25 PM | Dec 7 04:25 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 06:22 AM | Dec 21 10:22 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.