About the Chinese Lunar Calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar โ it combines both lunar phases and solar position to track time. Unlike the purely solar Gregorian calendar, Chinese months begin on the new moon, and years begin on the second (or third) new moon after the winter solstice.
The 24 Solar Terms
The year is divided into 24 solar terms (่ๆฐ, Jie Qi) that guide agricultural activities:
- Spring: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain
- Summer: Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Major Heat
- Autumn: Beginning of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent
- Winter: Beginning of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold, Major Cold
Note: This converter provides an approximate lunar date. For exact conversions, specialized astronomical calculations are required. Chinese New Year falls between January 21 and February 20.
Did You Know?
- A lunar year is about 354 days โ about 11 days shorter than a solar year. To stay aligned with the seasons, the Chinese calendar adds a "leap month" approximately every 3 years.
- The 24 solar terms were recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
- Each Chinese month is either 29 or 30 days long, based on the lunar cycle.
- The Chinese New Year is also called the "Spring Festival" (ๆฅ่) even though it's still winter!
๐ Read the Full Lunar Calendar Guide
Learn how the lunisolar calendar works, the 24 Solar Terms, and how Chinese festivals are determined.
Read the Lunar Calendar Guide โ