The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into "24 solar terms". The second term, Rain Water (yu shui), starts on Feb 18 and ends on March 4 this year.

Rain Water signals an increase in rainfall and a rise in temperature. With its arrival, spring scenery starts to blossom, with frozen rivers melting, wild geese moving from south to north, and trees and grass turning green again.

Here are six things you may not know about Rain Water.

Spring bamboo shoots

Rain Water is the best time of the year to consume fresh bamboo shoots. It is said one can only know the taste of spring after enjoying bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots have been cooked in China for over 2,000 years, according to the Book of Songs.

Water as precious as oil

According to an old Chinese saying, rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. In North China, spring droughts are common, and precipitation during this season accounts for just 10 to 15 percent of the annual average rainfall.

Therefore, Rain Water is considered a key period for irrigation, when the day gets warmer and rainfall increases.

Return of cold spell

Extra care must be taken to cope with a returning cold spell in late spring, which often occurs during the Rain Water period. The rapid increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperatures and wet weather. People are strongly advised not to shed their winter coats too early and to keep warm, especially the elderly and children.

Visits to in-laws

During Rain Water, it is tradition for husbands to visit their in-laws and give gifts. According to the tradition, gifts usually consist of two cane chairs wound with four meters of red belt, which symbolizes good health and longevity. Another typical gift is a pot that contains pig's knuckles stewed with soya and kelp, which is a way for the son-in-law to express his respect and gratitude.

Finding a godfather

Another traditional custom is to find a godfather for young children. This traditional practice used to be popular in some areas of Sichuan province.

Rainfall brings vitality to the earth. Therefore, people in the past believed that this practice would allow their children to grow up safe and healthy.

The custom can be traced back to the past when there was no way to cure many childhood diseases. Therefore, parents wanted a godfather to shower blessings and good fortune on their children.

Nutritious porridge

The wet and damp weather during the Rain Water period is considered harmful to the spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best way to nourish the body.

People in Beijing often eat porridge cooked with rehmannia glutinosa libosch, a kind of Chinese herb medicine, to resist the cold and wet weather and eliminate heat from the blood. It is also beneficial for people with constipation, arthritis, and headaches.

Vocabulary:

雨水

yǔ shuǐ

Rain Water

降雨

jiàng yǔ

rainfall

竹笋

zhú sǔn

bamboo shoots

灌溉

guàn gài

irrigation

生机

shēng jī

vitality

雨水节气意味着降雨增多，气温上升。

yǔ shuǐ jié qì yì wèi zhe jiàng yǔ zēng duō, qì wēn shàng shēng.

The Rain Water solar term signifies an increase in rainfall and a rise in temperatures.

中国有句老话，春雨贵如油。

zhōng guó yǒu jù lǎo huà, chūn yǔ guì rú yóu.

There is an old Chinese saying which says, "Spring rain is as precious as oil."