Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms and also the 5th solar term in winter, which     1     (arrive) on January 5, 6 or 7 every year. This years Minor Cold stars on January 5. After the Winter Solstice (冬至), the temperature continues to drop, and hits its lowest point on the occasion of the Minor Cold and Major Cod. The nine periods     2     (follow) the Winter Solstice are the coldest days in China. And Minor Cold is just in the per id of the second and third nine days.

As the name implies, Minor Cold means that the weather in this period is cold     3     not yet the coldest. However, in north China, the weather during the Minor Cold is colder than     4     of the Major Cold. Therefore, in the north, there is a     5     (say) that the Minor Cold is colder.than the Major Cold. But for some areas in the south, the     6     (low) temperature of the year will still appear in the Major Cold.

Minor Cold     7     (divide) into three 5-day phases in ancient times. In     8     first phase, wild geese would leave the warm places, and start to fly back to the north in     9     (group). In the second phase, magpies (喜鹊) that, are     10     (common) seen in nor them China would begin building nests for young birds. In the third phase, pheasants (野鸡) would crow in search of a mate.

4 . Autumn Equinox (秋分) lies at the midpoint of autumn, dividing autumn into two equal parts. After that day, the location of direct sunlight moves to the south, making days shorter and nights longer in the northern hemisphere.     1     Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term of the year, begins this year on Sept 23 and ends on Oct 7.

Here are things you should know about Autumn Equinox.

Cool autumn

As it is said in the ancient book, The Detailed Records of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), “It is on Autumn Equinox day that the Yin and Yang are in a balance of power. Thus the day and night are of equal length, and so are the cold and hot weather.”

    2     When the cold air heading south meets the declining warm and wet air, rain is the result. The temperature also drops frequently.

    3    

In South China, there is a custom popularly known as “having Qiucai (an autumn vegetable) on the Autumn Equinox day”. Qiucai is a kind of wild plant. Every Autumn Equinox day, all the villagers go to pick Qiucai in the wild. Qiucai is fresh and green in the field, thin, and about 20 cm in length.

    4    

By Autumn Equinox, olives, pears, chestnuts, beans, and other plants are mature. It is time to pick and eat them.

Season for enjoying chrysanthemums

    5    

Grain Rain, just as the name shows, is a key time for grains to grow. There is     1     old saying, “Rain brings up hundreds of grains,” which indicates the     2     (important) of this season.

In the northern part of China, the first heavy rain usually occurs during this time of year, which     3     (be) the best time for planting rice, corn, and the growth of cotton. It is also a good time for Chinese people     4     (eat) toona (香椿), a delicious seasonal plant,     5     new leaves are as soft as silk. Not only does it taste good, but it is also very good for health. It is very nutritious     6     can improve the immune system.     7     (fresh) made with Chinese tofu, toona is a traditional cold dish for people in the northern part of China.

Drinking tea is an old custom in the southern part of China. The mild temperatures and plentiful rainfall in the season make the spring tea leaves rich in a     8     (various) of vitamins and amino acids (氨基酸),     9     (give) the taste of spring tea a fresh and pleasant smell.

Along the northern coast of China, fishermen    10    (celebrate) the Grain Rain Festival for more than 2,000 years. On this day, fishermen in coastal areas pray for safety and a good harvest.