The summer solstice falls on June 21st or 22nd every year. It is the tenth solar terms of the 24 Chinese solar terms, marking the day of the longest daytime and shortest nighttime. Starting the summer solstice, the days begin to draw out. There's a saying that goes like this: "After eating noodles on the summer solstice day (a seasonal tradition), daylight gets shorter day by day".
After the summer solstice, temperature rises in north China and there's plenty of sunshine and rainfalls, which is good for the growth of crops. While areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are in rainy season, during which persistent and heavy rains are common. The hottest days of summer begin after the summer solstice. They come in three stages - the first, second and third period of the hot season, with each period lasting for ten days. Crops thrive in these hottest days and at the same time, weeds and pests also grow actively. It's a busy farming season.
