A farmer in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region tends a rice field on May 21, the day of grain buds. Meng Zengshi / for China Daily

Smartphone apps

Smartphone application developers have launched apps to help users identify the correct solar period, what to eat or use and the type of entertainment that accords with any given period within the cycle.

"For many young people who spend most of their working day indoors, it is really difficult to sense the change of season and time, and this electronic reminder tells us not only how to identify that, but also what to observe during time changes, the extended or shortened periods of sunlight, falling leaves or blooming flowers," said Zhu Ting, a 29-year-old accountant.

Zhu has three apps on her smartphone related to the 24 solar terms. They provide a comprehensive guide to leading a healthy and fulfilled life.

One app focuses on dining, another on workouts and a third on the natural scenes to see during the two-week cycles.

In Wuhan, Hubei province, 22-year-old Hu Cheng has noticed the business opportunities offered by the 24 solar periods. During the past 12 months, the marketing graduate has taken more than 2,000 photos of his college campus and has sorted 24 of them into an album.

"Many residents complain about the city's climate — the four seasons are not divided obviously. Temperatures can drop more than 10 degrees within 24 hours. People have called Wuhan 'an irregular city," said Hu.

However, he has observed the golden leaves, rapid snowfalls, dazzling sunlight and powerful downpours during the four seasons. His knowledge of the 24 solar periods has helped him notice differences in the natural world from day to day.

"I would like to use the photos to make a series of postcards — they would be a nice record of my college days and also help people identify the natural cycle of days in the city," said Hu.