Shanxi farmers abuzz as Grain Rain period begins

The spring rainy season has arrived, heralding guyu, or Grain Rain, the sixth of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese solar calendar. On schedule, the fields in North China's Shanxi province have come alive with bustling farmers working to take advantage of the precipitation.

Starting April 19 and ending May 4, the Grain Rain signals the end of cold weather and a rapid rise in temperature when grains grow faster and stronger. It's also a pivotal time to protect crops from insect pests.

In Yuncheng city, known as the granary of southern Shanxi, farmers seize the opportunity to water the winter wheat to resist drought and protect the seedlings.

Some of them also are busy planting Chinese yams, harvesting vegetables, and clearing weeds for use as medicinal herbs.