What Season Is May in China? Calendar and Regional Context
May is meteorological spring in China, but local weather ranges from cool northern conditions to…
Read More →Grain Rain, Guyu (谷雨), marks the final solar term of traditional spring, with a name linking rain and grain cultivation. In 2026 it falls on April 20 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8), at a solar longitude of 30°.
Calendar position and meaning
The Hong Kong Observatory translates Guyu as Corn Rain. The name records an agricultural seasonal association, not a promise that rain will fall on April 20.
| Chinese name | Guyu (谷雨) |
|---|---|
| Solar longitude | 30° |
| 2026 date | April 20, Hong Kong Time (UTC+8) |
| Adjacent terms | Clear and Bright → Grain Rain → Beginning of Summer |
Seasonal context
A useful garden record around Guyu compares measured rain, soil moisture and seedling development. Record a dry spell as observed rather than changing the entry to fit the term’s name.
The seasonal word “spring” here follows the traditional Northern Hemisphere calendar. The Hong Kong Observatory relates many term names to ancient central Chinese weather and agriculture. Local weather and plant development may differ; Southern Hemisphere seasonal timing is reversed.
Regional example and limits
The agricultural association helps explain the term’s name. It does not supply a universal sowing date: crops, varieties, soil temperature and regional rainfall determine what can be planted.
Calendar sources
Hong Kong Observatory: term names and solar longitudes; 2026 Gregorian–lunar conversion table; date and time notes (Hong Kong Time, UTC+8). The calendar sources establish astronomical timing and terminology; they do not verify regional customs.
Related reading
- 24 solar terms
- 24 solar terms calendar 2026
- chinese seasonal food calendar
- External cultural reference
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Grain Rain in 2026?
April 20 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The solar-term boundary is at 30° solar longitude; civil dates in other timezones can differ.
Does Grain Rain predict local weather?
No. The term is defined astronomically. Its seasonal name does not establish the temperature, rainfall or snowfall at a particular location.
