Bilingual Video丨Winter Solstice

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. Winter Solstice, the 22nd solar term of a year, begins on Dec 22 this year and ends on Jan 5 next year.

Eating dumplings is essential during the Winter Solstice in Northern China. A saying goes, "Have dumplings on the first day of Winter Solstice and noodles on the first day of Summer Solstice."

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.

From then on, the days become longer, and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the arrival of the coldest season of a year.

Web editors: Li Xiaoshu, Tong Lin