Solar terms in 2020
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2020, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 05:30 AM | Jan 5 09:30 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 10:54 PM | Jan 20 02:54 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 05:03 PM | Feb 4 09:03 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 12:57 PM | Feb 19 04:57 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 10:57 AM | Mar 5 02:57 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 11:49 AM | Mar 20 03:49 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 03:38 PM | Apr 4 07:38 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 19 10:45 PM | Apr 19 02:45 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 08:51 AM | May 5 12:51 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 20 09:49 PM | May 20 01:49 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 12:58 PM | Jun 5 04:58 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 05:43 AM | Jun 20 09:43 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 6 11:14 PM | Jul 6 03:14 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 04:36 PM | Jul 22 08:36 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 09:06 AM | Aug 7 01:06 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 22 11:45 PM | Aug 22 03:45 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 12:08 PM | Sep 7 04:08 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 22 09:30 PM | Sep 22 01:30 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 03:55 AM | Oct 7 07:55 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 06:59 AM | Oct 22 10:59 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 07:13 AM | Nov 6 11:13 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 04:39 AM | Nov 21 08:39 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 12:09 AM | Dec 6 04:09 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 06:02 PM | Dec 21 10:02 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.