Huainan: Science Popularization Practices Revitalize Solar Terms Culture

On November 28, China Meteorological Administration broadcast Huainan City’s initiatives in activating a new ecosystem of solar term culture through science popularization practices.

In recent years, the meteorological department of Huainan City has made the most use of the birthplace of the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” to integrate resources from meteorology, culture, tourism, and education to comprehensively carry out a full-chain science popularization initiative, including research projects, science popularization competitions, and the development of study-tour routes.

In terms of scientific research, Huainan Meteorological Bureau has established projects such as the “Technical Report Research on Solar-Term City of Huainan, Anhui” to regularly carry out basic research, popular science dissemination, and application in the field of the 24 solar terms. Huainan Municipal Meteorological Bureau has cooperated with Anhui Meteorological Society to publish the A Survey of Solar Terms books, promoting the intangible cultural heritage of solar terms and popularizing knowledge of disaster prevention and reduction.

In terms of science popularization practice, Huainan Municipal Meteorological Bureau, together with the Huainan Municipal Bureau of Education and Huainan Municipal Association of Science, held a city-wide meteorological science popularization competition for primary and secondary school students. Also, the recommended works have achieved excellent results in provincial competitions. Of them, the work 24 Solar Terms: All Four Seasons Are Good won the first prize and the Regional Characteristic Innovation Award.

In addition, Huainan, relying on the National Climate Observatory and Museum of 24 Solar Terms, has built a four-in-one platform for science popularization integrating the resources of “government, school, museum, and study tour”, and designed a study tour route that integrates meteorological observation, agricultural practice, and exploration of Chu Culture. For example, the activity held at the Shouxian National Climate Observatory on October 24th  provided a close opportunity for young people to experience the charm of meteorological science through immersive teaching and online live streaming.

In the Museum of 24 Solar Terms, students from Longhu Middle School are engaging in hands-on practice

Primary students from Huating Town Central Primary School of Susong watch the characteristic study activities of Longhu Middle School online.

The Museum of 24 Solar Terms of Huainan, which opened in January this year, systematically displays solar term phenology, agricultural customs, and intangible cultural heritage. As of October 10th, over 180,000 visitors visited the museum, effectively driving the growth of local cultural and tourism consumption.