Farmers busy with rice seedling ahead of traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman

Villagers work on a rice field ahead of the traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (grain buds) which falls on May 20 this year. (Photo: China News Service/Shi Yalei)

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Grain buds, the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 20 this year, and ends on June 4. It means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe.

Villagers work on a rice field ahead of the traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (grain buds) which falls on May 20 this year. (Photo: China News Service/Shi Yalei)

Villagers work on a rice field ahead of the traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (grain buds) which falls on May 20 this year. (Photo: China News Service/Shi Yalei)

Villagers work on a rice field ahead of the traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (grain buds) which falls on May 20 this year. (Photo: China News Service/Shi Yalei)

Villagers work on a rice field ahead of the traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (grain buds) which falls on May 20 this year. (Photo: China News Service/Shi Yalei)