At year’s end, when the weather turns cold, the wind and snow begin.

On a single night, myriad trees bloom with frosty flowers.

Snowflakes swirl as midwinter begins.

Today at 17:32

Heavy snow has arrived.

Great Snow is the third solar term of winter.

The arrival of heavy snow marks the official beginning of midwinter.

The “Collection of Explanations for the Seventy-two Seasonal Divisions of the Monthly Ordinances” states:

“Great Snow, a solar term of the eleventh month.”

“Greatness is abundance. At this point, the snow has reached its peak.”

At this moment, the weather is growing colder and colder.

The water’s surface is frozen, and the north wind sweeps across the land.

Snowflakes dance, and all things lie dormant in winter.

The ancients divided the period of heavy snow into three hou.
First, the oriole ceases to sing; second, the tiger begins to mate; third, the lilyturf sprouts.

It means that at this time, due to the cold weather.

The cold‑weather bird no longer sings.

The tiger has begun exhibiting courtship behavior.

“Li” refers to the malan grass.

It, too, can sense the stir of yang energy and sprout new buds.

As the saying goes, “During Lesser Snow, pickle vegetables; during Greater Snow, cure meat.”

As soon as the Great Snow solar term arrives, every household busies itself curing and preserving pork.

By the time of the Spring Festival

These cured meats have become a delicious feast for family gatherings.

In some places, there are also customs such as drinking sweet potato porridge and boiling snow to brew tea.

Heavy snowfall is also an excellent time for nourishing the body.

Tangerines, hawthorn, goji berries, lamb

They’re all seasonal nourishing delicacies.

Moistening lips and tongue, warming the heart.

The Time of Heavy Snow

In the north, there is a natural landscape of “thousands of miles frozen over, and ten thousand miles blanketed in drifting snow.”

In the south, too, there is a charming scene of “snowflakes dancing and silver spreading across the sky.”

When the Great Snow solar term arrives

People can enjoy skating and having fun to their heart’s content.

Enjoy the fun of ice and snow.

A single snowfall is enough to transform Pan Shan.

It turns into a gray-and-white ink painting.

A serene and tranquil stillness pervades the world.

It is both romantic and poetic.

The fusion of mountain temples and snow

It also forms a heartwarming scene.

The sound of bells from afar

Resonating throughout the valley, ethereal and mysterious.

It’s normal for it to be cold after a heavy snowfall.

This, too, is what winter should look like.

The editor reminds everyone to keep an eye on weather updates.

When going out, be sure to take adequate measures to stay warm.