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Solar term 10 of 24
Summer Solstice
夏至 · Xiazhi
The Sun stands over the Tropic of Cancer: the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After today, days slowly shorten.
The three pentads
- 鹿角解Deer shed their antlers
- 蜩始鳴Cicadas begin to sing
- 半夏生The banxia herb grows
Each solar term is split into three pentads of about five days, each marked by a sign in nature.
Customs
A saying goes, “dumplings at the winter solstice, noodles at the summer solstice”, and many places eat noodles today.
Sky file
- Sun's longitude
- 90°
- Type
- Principal term (zhongqi)
- Season
- Summer
- Chinese month
- 午 Wu month (Grain in Ear to Minor Heat)
- Sun's position
- Enters Cancer
- Dates
- Jun 21, 2026 · Jun 21, 2027
Dates are in Beijing time.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Summer Solstice?
- Jun 21, 2026; Jun 21, 2027 (the moment the term begins, Beijing time).
- What are the three pentads of Summer Solstice?
- Pentad 1: 鹿角解 (Deer shed their antlers); Pentad 2: 蜩始鳴 (Cicadas begin to sing); Pentad 3: 半夏生 (The banxia herb grows).
- What customs are associated with Summer Solstice?
- A saying goes, “dumplings at the winter solstice, noodles at the summer solstice”, and many places eat noodles today.
- Where is the Sun at Summer Solstice?
- The Sun reaches ecliptic longitude 90° (entering Cancer). Summer Solstice is a principal term (zhongqi) in summer.
For culture and fun: personality and tradition only, no predictions.