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Solar term 4 of 24
Spring Equinox
春分 · Chunfen
On the Spring Equinox the Sun stands directly over the equator, so day and night are almost equal. It also splits the ninety days of spring in half. From here on, days in the Northern Hemisphere grow longer.
The three pentads
- 玄鳥至Swallows return
- 雷乃發聲Thunder makes its voice heard
- 始電Lightning first appears
Each solar term is split into three pentads of about five days, each marked by a sign in nature.
Customs
A popular game is trying to stand an egg on its end. People also hold spring offerings, eat wild spring greens and fly kites.
Sky file
- Sun's longitude
- 0°
- Type
- Principal term (zhongqi)
- Season
- Spring
- Chinese month
- 卯 Mao month (Awakening of Insects to Clear and Bright)
- Sun's position
- Enters Aries
- Dates
- Mar 20, 2026 · Mar 21, 2027
Dates are in Beijing time.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Spring Equinox?
- Mar 20, 2026; Mar 21, 2027 (the moment the term begins, Beijing time).
- What are the three pentads of Spring Equinox?
- Pentad 1: 玄鳥至 (Swallows return); Pentad 2: 雷乃發聲 (Thunder makes its voice heard); Pentad 3: 始電 (Lightning first appears).
- What customs are associated with Spring Equinox?
- A popular game is trying to stand an egg on its end. People also hold spring offerings, eat wild spring greens and fly kites.
- Where is the Sun at Spring Equinox?
- The Sun reaches ecliptic longitude 0° (entering Aries). Spring Equinox is a principal term (zhongqi) in spring.
For culture and fun: personality and tradition only, no predictions.