The Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Grain in Ear (Chinese: 芒种), the ninth solar term, falls on June 5 this year.
The arrival of Grain in Ear signifies that farmers are getting back to the busy field work. It is the deadline for sowing activities. During this period, areas around middle stream and downstream of the Yangtze River enter the rainy season.
Hubei is the birthplace of rice cultivation, and rice is the province's largest grain crop. Known as the "land of a thousand lakes" and major producer of grain in China, Hubei boasts unique ecological environment and technological strength, giving rise to the high-quality and delicious "Jianghan Rice".