Solar terms in 2021
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2021, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 11:23 AM | Jan 5 03:23 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 04:40 AM | Jan 19 08:40 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 3 10:59 PM | Feb 3 02:59 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 06:44 PM | Feb 18 10:44 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 04:53 PM | Mar 5 08:53 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 05:37 PM | Mar 20 09:37 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 09:34 PM | Apr 4 01:34 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 04:33 AM | Apr 19 08:33 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 02:46 PM | May 5 06:46 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 03:36 AM | May 20 07:36 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 06:51 PM | Jun 5 10:51 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 11:31 AM | Jun 21 03:31 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 05:05 AM | Jul 6 09:05 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 10:26 PM | Jul 22 02:26 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 02:53 PM | Aug 7 06:53 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 05:34 AM | Aug 22 09:34 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 05:52 PM | Sep 7 09:52 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 03:20 AM | Sep 22 07:20 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 09:39 AM | Oct 8 01:39 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 12:51 PM | Oct 23 04:51 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 12:58 PM | Nov 7 04:58 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 10:33 AM | Nov 22 02:33 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 05:57 AM | Dec 6 09:57 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 11:59 PM | Dec 21 03:59 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.