永福樱花园，福建省龙岩市, 中国 Yongfu cherry blossom garden in Longyan, Fujian, China (© SEN LI/Getty Images)

永福樱花园，福建省龙岩市, 中国 Yongfu cherry blossom garden in Longyan, Fujian, China (© SEN LI/Getty Images)

早春的气息 The Scent of Early Spring

永福樱花园，福建龙岩

立春，为二十四节气之首。立，是“开始”之意；春，代表着温暖、生长。立春标志着万物闭藏的冬季已过去，开始进入风和日暖、万物生长的春季。时至立春，在我国的北回归线（黄赤交角）及其以南一带，可明显感觉到早春的气息。虽然立春节气是从天文中划分的，但每年在立春节气后，人们开始有了一些踏春出游的活动。

Cherry blossom garden, Fujian

According to the traditional Chinese solar calendar, there are 24 solar terms in a year. Lichun is the first solar term. In China, Lichun means ‘Start of Spring’. The date of Lichun in 2022 is February 3rd. There are many traditions for this special day. There are many traditional activities on this special day to welcome spring, including making a spring ox, standing up eggs, and worshipping ancestors.

The start of Spring is only a prelude to spring for many northern regions. Everything has not yet left its frozen state in most of northern China around February 4th. Spring Outings to Appreciate Plum Blossoms Going out to parks or grasslands/hills to enjoy the spring views is another popular activity during the Lichun festival. People also eat food related to spring is called ‘biting spring’ in Chinese. Spring pancakes, spring rolls, or Spring vegetables are the most popular “spring foods” eaten on the day of Lichun.