Xiazhi

Xiazhi
Chinese夏至
Literal meaning"summer's extreme"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinxiàzhì
Bopomofoㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓˋ
IPA[ɕjâ.ʈʂɻ̩̂]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationhaah ji
Jyutpinghaa6 zi3
IPA[ha˨.tsi˧]
Solar term
Term Longitude Dates
Lichun 315°4–5 February
Yushui 330°18–19 February
Jingzhe 345°5–6 March
Chunfen 20–21 March
Qingming 15°4–5 April
Guyu 30°20–21 April
Lixia 45°5–6 May
Xiaoman 60°21–22 May
Mangzhong 75°5–6 June
Xiazhi 90°21–22 June
Xiaoshu 105°7–8 July
Dashu 120°22–23 July
Liqiu 135°7–8 August
Chushu 150°23–24 August
Bailu 165°7–8 September
Qiufen 180°23–24 September
Hanlu 195°8–9 October
Shuangjiang 210°23–24 October
Lidong 225°7–8 November
Xiaoxue 240°22–23 November
Daxue 255°7–8 December
Dongzhi 270°21–22 December
Xiaohan 285°5–6 January
Dahan 300°20–21 January

Xiàzhì is the 10th solar term, and marks the summer solstice, in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar dividing a year into 24 solar terms.

It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°. The word xiazhi most often refers specifically to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 90°. In the Gregorian calendar, this is around 21 June, and the Xiazhi period ends with the beginning of the next solar term, Xiaoshu, around 7 July.

Xiazhi is considered the middle of the summer and the beginning of the hottest part of summer. Although it was once celebrated with traditional customs, these customs have mostly died out, and Xiazhi is not observed much anymore.