A grain of truth

Besides showcasing the busy scene on the farmlands, the poet praised the hardworking spirit of farmers, reminding people to cherish their hard labor and expressed his empathy.

With differences in geography and climate, the agricultural crops also vary in northern and southern China.

Bai's poem reflects the lives of people in northern China, who race against time to harvest wheat. However, it's different for people living in southern China, who work around the clock to plant rice.

Lu You, a poet during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), wrote a poem, titled Shi Yu (Timely Rain), to portray the lives of people living in southern China during mang zhong, which goes: "The rain comes in time during the 'grain in the ear' and rice plants are ready to be transplanted on the farmlands. The new rice in every family is delicious and the singing of local folk song is melodious."

Since rainfall increases during the period, compared to the previous eight solar terms, it is good for growing rice in the Yangtze region. It's also called "plum rains" season, referring to the long period of continuous rainy or cloudy weather. This is also a time when plums ripen. The period is good for growing rice, vegetables and fruits.