The 24 Solar Terms · Major cold

Major Cold (Chinese: 大寒), the 24th solar term, begins this year on Jan 20 and ends on Feb 3. Major Cold 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.

Major Cold literally means the weather is cold to the extreme. At this time, the bitter cold wind sweeps through the landmass. Rivers and lakes are covered with ice, which can be described as "freezing". Although everything is frozen during Major Cold, the earth is warming up quietly. Once the Major Cold is over, everything is ready for the start of spring. We will usher in a new cycle of four seasons.

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Zhang Rui