Rural artists depict 24 solar terms in paintings

陈小将

Lichun (Start of Spring), the first solar term of the year, lifts the curtain on spring. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Han Limei and her husband Gai Bin, a couple of folk artists in Jingyu county, Northeast China's Jilin province, have created a series of rural paintings representing the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar.

Combining the regional characteristics and folk cultures, the paintings present scenes of the 24 solar terms in Northeast China and depict Chinese farmers with vitality and charm.

More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the sun's motion.

Nowadays, the 24 solar terms not only apply to farming but also guide Chinese people in everyday life.