Mangzhong, or Grain in Ear

Mangzhong, or Grain in Ear, is the ninth solar term on the Chinese lunar calendar and the third of the summer. Mangzhong usually falls between June 5 and 7 during one of the busiest farming seasons of the year. During this period, temperatures rise significantly, rainfall increases, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River enter the plum rain season. Folk traditions include boiling green plums and holding Anmiao ceremonies (rituals to pray for healthy crops). The golden wheat ripening, plums maturing and bustling activity in the fields vividly showcase the agricultural rush to harvest summer crops and plant autumn grains, signaling the imminent arrival of peak summer.