Quick Answer: When Is Qiufen?
Qiufen (秋分, Qiūfēn), or the Autumn Equinox, is the 16th of the 24 solar terms. It occurs when the Sun’s apparent longitude reaches 180 degrees, usually around September 22 to 24. The Hong Kong Observatory places it on September 23 in both 2026 and 2027. [1][2][3][4]
- Day and night: Their lengths are close to equal around the equinox. [5]
- Harvest festival: China has marked the annual equinox with the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival since 2018. [4][6]
- A historical rite: Ming and Qing emperors honored the moon at Beijing’s Temple of the Moon (月坛, Yuètán) at the equinox. [7]
Qiufen follows the Sun. Mid-Autumn Festival follows the eighth lunar month.
A September equinox in Beijing once set the date of an imperial ceremony for the moon and stars at the Temple of the Moon. Today it also sets the date of China’s Farmers’ Harvest Festival. The two observances use the same calendar point for different purposes. [6][7]
The Equinox as a Moment on the Calendar
The Hong Kong Observatory lists Qiufen at 180 degrees, between White Dew at 165 degrees and Cold Dew at 195 degrees in the autumn solar terms. The September equinox is the moment the center of the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south. The term comes after the traditional Start of Autumn, even though some astronomical calendars use the equinox itself to begin autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. [1][8]
The Observatory’s almanac gives 8:05 a.m. Hong Kong time on September 23, 2026 and 2:02 p.m. on September 23, 2027. A calendar may print the date alone, while an almanac gives the time of the crossing. A different time zone can give the same instant a different civil date. NASA gives the 2026 equinox as the afternoon of September 22 on the U.S. Pacific coast, while it was already September 23 in Hong Kong. [2][3][8]
Why Day and Night Are Nearly Equal
Near the equinox, daylight and darkness are close to equal. The interval from sunrise to sunset includes the moments when only the upper part of the Sun is visible. Air bends sunlight near the horizon, making the Sun appear slightly higher. Together, these effects extend the measured interval of daylight compared with a calculation using only the center of the Sun. [5][8]
Moon Rites, Harvest Events and Mid-Autumn
Beijing’s cultural heritage bureau records that the Temple of the Moon, built in 1530, was used for Ming and Qing ceremonies honoring the moon and constellations on the Autumn Equinox. The court’s date followed the solar term. 中秋節 falls on day 15 of the eighth lunar month. In 2026 it fell on September 25, two days after Qiufen in Hong Kong’s calendar. [2][7][9]
China’s State Council designated the Autumn Equinox as the annual Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival in 2018. The 2026 national program took place in Dongjiao village, Zaoyang, in Hubei. The agriculture ministry’s coverage describes regional foods, agricultural products, bamboo weaving and opera at the event. The national program changes location and gives the observance a local setting. [6][10]
FAQs About Qiufen
Is Qiufen always on September 23?
September 23 is the Hong Kong date in 2026 and 2027. The date varies with the year and time zone because the term begins at an astronomical instant. [2][3][4][8]
What are some folk customs associated with Qiufen?
Yantai’s seasonal account mentions standing an egg upright and flying kites among the folk customs. The practices vary by community. [11]
資料來源
[1] Hong Kong Observatory. The 24 Solar Terms
[2] Hong Kong Observatory. 24 Solar Terms in 2026
[3] 香港天文台. 24 Solar Terms in 2027
[4] China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 2026 Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival
[5] U.S. Naval Observatory. Length of Day and Night at the Equinoxes
[6] State Council of China. Approval of the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival
[7] Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. Temple of the Moon
[8] NASA Science. Embracing the Equinox
[9] Hong Kong Observatory. Moon-Watching Tips for Mid-Autumn Festival 2026
[10] China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 2026 Harvest Festival Main Event in Zaoyang
[11] Yantai Municipal Government. Autumn Equinox Seasonal Customs