Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar term of the year, lifts the curtain on spring. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Rain Water (Chinese: 雨水), the second solar term of the year, signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Awakening of Insects (Chinese: 惊蛰), the third solar term of the year, signals a rise in temperature and increased rain fall. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Spring Equinox (Chinese: 春分), the fourth term of the year, signals the equal length of the day and night time. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Clear and Bright (Chinese: 清明), the fifth solar term of the year, is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Grain Rain (Chinese: 谷雨), the last term in spring, signals the end of cold weather and a rapid rise in temperature. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Start of Summer (Chinese: 立夏), the seventh term of the year, signals the transition of seasons.The temperature will rise quickly. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Grain Buds, (Chinese: 小满), the eighth solar term of the year, means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Grain in Ear, (Chinese: 芒种), the ninth solar termof the year, signifies the ripening of crops, such as barley and wheat. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Summer Solstice, (Chinese: 夏至), the 10th solar term of the year, means much of the northern hemisphere receives the most hours of daylight. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Minor Heat, (Chinese: 小暑), the 11th solar term of the year,signifies the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Major Heat(Chinese: 大暑), the 12th solar term of the year, means most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Start of Autumn, (Chinese: 立秋), the 13th solar term of the year, reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

End of Heat, (Chinese: 处暑), the 14th solar term of the year, implies that most parts in China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

White Dew, (Chinese: 白露), the 15th solar term of the year, indicates the real beginning of cool autumn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Autumn Equinox, (Chinese: 秋分), the 16th solar term of the year, means most of the areas in China have entered the cool autumn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Cold Dew, (Chinese: 寒露), the 17th solar term of the year, means the dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Frost's Descent, (Chinese: 霜降), the 18th solar term of the year, is the last solar term of autumn, during which time the weather becomes much colder than before and frost begins to appear. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Start of Winter, (Chinese: 立冬), the 19th solar term of the year, is the first solar term of winter, which means winter is coming and crops harvested in autumn should be stored up.. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Minor Snow, (Chinese: 小雪), the 20th solar term of the year, refers to the time when it starts to snow, mostly in China's northern areas, and the temperature continues to drop. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Major Snow (Chinese: 大雪), the 21st solar term of the year, means the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground.The temperature drops significantly. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Winter Solstice (Chinese: 冬至) is the 22nd solar term of the year. On the first day of Winter Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the longest night in the year, as the sun shines directly at the Tropic of Capricorn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Minor Cold (Chinese: 小寒), the 23rd solar term of the year, means most areas in China have entered the bitter cold stage of winter. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Major Cold (Chinese: 大寒)is the last solar term in winter and also the last solar term in the annual lunar calendar. In this period, snow, rain and icy cold weather exert a big influence on people's lives. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]