The 24 solar terms
The Chinese divide the year into 24 solar terms (节气) and the division reflects changes in climate. The solar terms were created before the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). Each solar term lasts about 15 days, and (give) information about that exact time of year, such as the weather and the conditions growing crops.
In the (begin), the solar terms helped farmers to plan their work for the year. Today, the solar terms are much (many) than just an agricultural calendar system. They are part of Chinese culture traditions. For example, people in the North of China usually eat jiaozi when Winter Begins (Lidong) arrives.
Part of the appeal of the solar terms is (they) poetic names, such as Frost Descends (Shuangjiang) or White Dew (Bailu). It is not surprising that such names have inspired poets (write) poems about the solar terms. For example, Du Mu described the rainy day weather in spring in his poem Pure Brightness (Qingming). Despite their ancient roots, the solar terms are still (interest) to young people in China, and posts about the start of a new solar term on social media are often popular.
The solar terms (be) so important that in 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized them as intangible cultural heritage.
