At 3:56 a.m. Beijing time on April 20th,the “Grain Rain” solar term has arrive.
A strong wind swept across the country, bringing a highly dramatic finale to this spring. After the strong wind, all the flowers fall and the last solar term of spring – Grain Rain – arrives.
The English name of Guyu is”Grain Rain”, which Gu means grains, Yu means rains . In addition, Guyu is also known as the “6thJie qi”, English called “6th solar term”.
At this time of year, seedlings are just transplanted, new crops are planted, spring tea is picked, flowers are in full bloom and all things are growing.
Guyu was originated from the ancient version “rain germinate all grains”, every April 19th to 21st, the sun reaches 30 degrees in longitude is Guyu, it is the so-called “Qingming off the snow,Guyu off the frost”. When the Guyu is coming, it means that the cold weather has basically ended, the temperature rises faster, which is benefit for the growth of cereal crops.
When the Grain Rain comes, spring ploughing is in full swing. At this time of year, farmers seize the farming season to carry out spring sowing, spring management and other work.
The fields and farmlands present a bustling scene.
The Grain Rain sends spring away, and the blooming flowers await summer.
In this last touch of spring color, the prelude to the next beautiful season begins.
Picking tea leaves is a custom in Guyu in the south of China. It’ssaid that drinking tea in Guyu will help people clear away heat, exorcise evil spirits and improving eyesight. So no matter what the weather is like in Guyu this day, people will go to pick some new tea leaves to drink. In the north of China,people eat Chinese toon as a custom in Guyu, so we also say Chinese toon is tender as silk in Guyu.
It is believed that both the tea picked and processed before the Qingming Festival and the tea picked and processed during the Grain Rain period are top-quality teas of the year.
Tea farmers believe that only the dry tea leaves made from fresh tea leaves picked on the day of Grain Rain can be regarded as genuine pre-rain tea. And there is another strict requirement, which is that it must be picked in the morning.
The period around Grain Rain is an important time for peonies to bloom, which is why peonies are called “Grain Rain flowers”. On the third day of the Grain Rain, people enjoy peonies and admire them, which has become an important recreational activity in their leisure time.
Saying goodbye to the reserved spring and welcoming the passionate summer grain rain is the most poetic farewell of spring. May you and I cherish time and forge ahead in the final glance of spring!
Post time: Apr-21-2025