Awakening of Insects

「一阵催花雨，数声惊蛰雷。」

Solar Term Begins: 2027-03-05 – 2027-03-07

Awakening of Insects is the third of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. At this time, the first spring thunder suddenly breaks the silence, awakening insects and other life forms that have spent the winter dormant underground. Peach blossoms turn red…

Temperature Trends

Rapid warming

The pace of warming accelerates noticeably. Apart from the colder high-latitude and high-altitude regions of Northeast and Northwest China, average temperatures across most of the country have risen above 0°C. North China reaches around 5–10°C, while Jiangnan and South China remain steadily between 10 and 15°C. Warm and cold air masses, however, continue to clash intensely, causing considerable temperature fluctuations, and episodes of “late spring cold” still occur from time to time.

Precipitation Patterns

Spring thunder with rain

Warm, humid airflows continue to strengthen. Average precipitation across China increases significantly compared with Rain Water. The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Jiangnan region frequently experience prolonged overcast and rainy weather, spring thunder becomes increasingly common, and South China begins preparations for the early flood season.

一

Peach Blossoms Begin to Bloom

As temperatures rise, peach blossoms begin to open, gradually tinting the hills and countryside with the pink hues of spring and becoming one of the defining phenological signs of mid-spring.

二

Orioles Begin to Sing

仓庚 refers to the golden oriole. Sensing the warmth and yang qi of spring, it begins to sing melodiously among the branches, announcing the flourishing season to Heaven and Earth.

三

Hawks turn into doves

Ancient observers noticed that hawks became less visible at this time while cuckoos grew more numerous, and poetically imagined that hawks transformed into cuckoos. In reality, the image reflects reduced activity among birds of prey as they enter the breeding season, while migratory birds gradually return north.

Temperature Trends

Autumn deepening

Summer heat has largely faded and the weather turns distinctly cooler. Daily average temperatures continue to fall, especially at night, when the chill of autumn becomes increasingly perceptible. The day–night temperature range remains wide, cold-air activity becomes more frequent, and nighttime temperatures in high-latitude regions approach freezing. The late-autumn scene of pale dew condensing toward frost becomes progressively more pronounced.

Precipitation Patterns

Dry with little rain

Rainfall is sparse, the air is dry, and clear weather predominates. Autumn dryness reaches its height, while morning and evening dew becomes more abundant. Crystal-clear droplets on grasses and trees at dawn form one of the most characteristic phenological sights of the White Dew season. Such weather conditions are highly favorable for the maturation and harvesting of autumn crops.

一

Wild Geese Arrive

As autumn deepens, migratory birds sensitive to climatic change begin to gather and move gradually toward warmer, lower-latitude regions, while formations of geese appear in the sky.

二

Swallows Depart

Swallows and other migratory birds successively begin their southward journeys toward the tropics, and the lively figures of summer gradually disappear from temperate regions.

三

Birds lay up provisions

Here “羞” is interchangeable with “馐,” meaning fine food. Sensing the approach of winter, birds begin diligently storing food and making their final preparations for the cold season.

Temperature Trends

Unbearable dry heat

In tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere—such as Southeast Asia, India, and northern Africa—temperatures continue to rise and the hot, dry season reaches its peak. Localized convective showers begin to appear, signaling that the curtain of the wet season is about to rise. In tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere—such as central Africa and northern South America—the wet season enters its final stage, rainfall intensity declines noticeably, and the leading edge of the dry season draws nearer. Across the tropical world, the annual transition between dry and wet regimes is now entering a major turning point.

Precipitation Patterns

Wet season winding down

Tropical areas of the Northern Hemisphere—including Southeast Asia, India, and northern Africa—transition from the hot dry season toward the rainy season, with thunderstorms becoming more frequent; tropical areas of the Southern Hemisphere—including central Africa and northern South America—enter the closing stage of the wet season, with rainfall decreasing noticeably.

一

Flowering trees in full bloom

Nourished by the abundant rains of the wet season, tropical vegetation enters one of its most luxuriant periods of flowering, filling the forests with vivid color.

二

Insects reproduce

Warm and humid conditions drive tropical insects into a peak breeding period, making them a crucial link in the food chain.

三

Monsoon shifts direction

As the point of direct solar radiation shifts northward, the trade-wind belts and monsoon circulation undergo seasonal adjustments, bringing tropical wind directions and rainfall patterns to an important annual turning point.

Solar-Term Farming

Farm with the Seasons · Work with Nature

Hover to Explore Farming Regions

Middle and Lower Yangtze

Northeast China

Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Eastern Inner Mongolia

Maize Rice Soybean

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Although most areas remain under frozen-soil conditions, vegetable cu…

Farming Advice

Complete autumn tillage pro…
Service farm machinery and …

Northwest China

Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang

Wheat Maize Cotton

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Winter wheat fully revives and enters the stem-elongation stage, whil…

Farming Advice

Roll winter wheat fields to…
Apply winter irrigation in …

North China

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan

Wheat Maize Peanut

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Winter wheat on the Huang–Huai–Hai Plain enters the jointing stage, w…

Farming Advice

Control excessive winter-wh…
Clear drainage ditches in r…

Middle and Lower Yangtze

Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan

Rice Rapeseed Tea

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Rapeseed enters full bloom and early-rice sowing and seedling cultiva…

Farming Advice

Plough promptly after the l…
Clear drainage ditches in r…

Southwest China

Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet

Rice Maize Tea Flue-Cured Tobacco

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Wheat in the Sichuan Basin enters the booting stage, while drought ri…

Farming Advice

Check winter-wheat emergenc…
Top-dress rapeseed seedling…

South China & Taiwan (China)

Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan (China)

Rice Sugarcane Tropical Fruit

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Early rice reaches a critical stage of seedling management, while tro…

Farming Advice

Harvest late rice during cl…
Fertilise and earth up suga…

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Seasonal Delicacies

Eat with the Seasons · Nothing Out of Season

Seasonal Delicacies

Awakening of Insects · Flavors of the Season

Seasonal Tastes · A Guide to Eating with the Seasons

Pear

Stir-Fried Beans (Chao Jingzhe / Chao Xiedou)

Egg

Taro

Lazy Dragon (Meat Dragon)

Lǘdagun (Glutinous Rice Roll with Soybean Flour)

Explore Seasonal Foods →

Traditional Customs

When Rites Fade, Seek Them Among the People · Old Ways Still Endure

Traditional Customs

Awakening of Insects · Everyday Traditions

Seasonal Rites · Everyday Traditions

Sacrificial rite

Offering to the White Tiger

OfferingtotheWhiteTigerisoneofthemos…

Folk ritual magi

Villain-Hitting

Villain-hitting,or“打小人”,isaformoffol…

Sacrificial and

Stretching New Drumheads

AwakeningofInsectsisasolartermtradit…

Food custom

Eating Pears

Eatingpearsisoneofthebest-knowncusto…

View All Customs →

Solar-Term Poetry

Poetry · The Heart of Heaven and Earth

「观田家（节选）」

[Tang Dynasty] · Wei Yingwu

微雨众卉新，一雷惊蛰始。

田家几日闲，耕种从此起。

丁壮俱在野，场圃亦就理。

归来景常晏，饮犊西涧水。

Modern Translation

After the light rain, the flowers and plants are renewed, and a single clap of spring thunder marks the arrival of Awakening of Insects. From this point onward, farming households have few idle days, for plowing and sowing now begin. The young and able-bodied are all at work in the fields, while threshing grounds and vegetable plots are also put in order. By the time they return from work, it is often already late, and they must still lead the calves to drink from the western stream.

In-Depth Commentary

With concise strokes, this poem sketches a picture of farm life during Awakening of Insects. “微雨众卉新” describes visually the revival of all things after spring rain, and the character “新” fully conveys the brightness and vitality of vegetation after being nourished by the rain. “一雷惊蛰始” turns to hearing and writes the defining phenological feature of the season: the sudden sound of spring thunder not only awakens insects hidden in hibernation, but also rouses the sleeping earth. “田家几日闲，耕种从此起” makes clear the agricultural meaning of Awakening of Insects as the starting point of spring cultivation. The latter half unfolds through concrete details of farm work. “丁壮俱在野” describes all the young and able-bodied laboring in the fields, while “归来景常晏，饮犊西涧水” forms a warm scene at the close of the day, showing the plain condition of rural life: arduous, yet closely dependent upon nature. It reveals both the poet’s familiarity with agricultural work and his sympathy for farmers.

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Awakening of Insects

Solar-Term Farming

Northeast China

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

Northwest China

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

North China

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

Middle and Lower Yangtze

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

Southwest China

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

South China & Taiwan (China)

Farming Focus for This Solar Term

Farming Advice

Seasonal Delicacies

Seasonal Tastes · A Guide to Eating with the Seasons

Traditional Customs

Seasonal Rites · Everyday Traditions

Solar-Term Poetry

「观田家（节选）」

Modern Translation

In-Depth Commentary

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