Traditional culture in plain words
Rain Water (雨水)
Rain Water (雨水) is the second of the twenty-four solar terms. Snow slowly gives way to rain, and the ground begins to warm.
At a glance
What the solar terms mean
Rain Water follows Start of Spring (立春). It usually falls around 18 or 19 February — in 2026, on 18 February. Cold still lingers in the north, while the south turns damp. The name told people that spring rain was near and farm work would soon begin.
A farming saying calls spring rain 'as precious as oil' (春雨貴如油), as it arrives when crops need it most. Farming families prepare for spring ploughing, mending tools and sorting seeds, in hope of a good harvest.
Traditional customs in different places
As the weather turns milder, families traditionally air clothes and bedding and tidy the home, ready for the humid spring. In many parts of China, married daughters return to visit their parents at this time, bringing dishes they have cooked themselves. In Sichuan and some other areas, there is also the custom of 'la baobao' (拉保保), when parents choose godparents for a child, with wishes for the child to grow up safe and well.
Solar terms belong to the traditional calendar and are shared for cultural reference. For weather, please follow the forecast from your local weather service.