D Our grandparents seem to have magic powers sometimes. Give them a Chinese lunar calendar, and they will know what the weather will be like days or even months later. What’s the secret? They are following the 24 Solar Terms ( 节气) , which is an important part of Chinese culture. And on Nov 30, 2016, the United Nations added it to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity ( 人类非物质文化遗产) . In ancient times, most Chinese people made their living on farms. So, weather changes were important for them. Without satellites, the Internet or the weather broadcast’s help, Chinese ancient people studied the sun’s movement with a sundial ( 日暮仪) .They also paid attention to other natural changes such as air temperature, water and crop growth. As early as the Shang dynasty, the Chinese ancestors had already established four major solar terms. During the Zhou dynasty, eight solar terms marking the four seasons were established. Until the Han dynasty, the present 24 solar terms was established completely. The terms became their guide to farming work. For example, the solar term jingzhe ( 惊蛰) is when insects wake up from a long sleep in the cold winter. Farmers take it as a sign of warm weather and get busy working. The 24 Solar Terms is honored as China’s fifth great invention, after paper-making, printing, the compass and gunpowder. Now, people still say, “Do not show your feet after hanlu ( 寒露) ” Why? It’s because the solar term hanlu marks the coming of cold days.