Solar terms in 2025
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2025, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 10:32 AM | Jan 5 02:32 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 04:00 AM | Jan 19 08:00 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 3 10:10 PM | Feb 3 02:10 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 06:06 PM | Feb 18 10:06 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 04:07 PM | Mar 5 08:07 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 05:01 PM | Mar 20 09:01 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 08:48 PM | Apr 4 12:48 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 03:56 AM | Apr 19 07:56 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 01:57 PM | May 5 05:57 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 02:54 AM | May 20 06:54 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 05:56 PM | Jun 5 09:56 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 10:42 AM | Jun 21 02:42 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 04:04 AM | Jul 6 08:04 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 09:29 PM | Jul 22 01:29 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 01:51 PM | Aug 7 05:51 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 04:33 AM | Aug 22 08:33 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 04:51 PM | Sep 7 08:51 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 02:19 AM | Sep 22 06:19 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 08:41 AM | Oct 8 12:41 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 11:51 AM | Oct 23 03:51 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 12:04 PM | Nov 7 04:04 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 09:35 AM | Nov 22 01:35 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 05:04 AM | Dec 6 09:04 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 11:03 PM | Dec 21 03:03 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.