Year of the Dragon
The dragon (龙, lóng) is the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac and the only one of the twelve that is a mythical creature. Recent dragon years include 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024; the next dragon year begins on Jan 28, 2036. A dragon year runs from one Chinese New Year to the eve of the next, so it never lines up exactly with the Gregorian calendar.
Exact dragon year dates
Each dragon year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next Chinese New Year.
| dragon year | Gregorian date range |
|---|---|
| 1952 | Jan 27, 1952 – Feb 13, 1953 |
| 1964 | Feb 13, 1964 – Feb 1, 1965 |
| 1976 | Jan 31, 1976 – Feb 17, 1977 |
| 1988 | Feb 17, 1988 – Feb 5, 1989 |
| 2000 | Feb 5, 2000 – Jan 23, 2001 |
| 2012 | Jan 23, 2012 – Feb 9, 2013 |
| 2024 | Feb 10, 2024 – Jan 28, 2025 |
Born in January or February? Check the boundary
The most recent dragon year began on Feb 10, 2024 and ended on Jan 28, 2025. Anyone born between January 1, 2024 and Feb 9, 2024 is actually a rabbit, because the rabbit year had not finished yet — and anyone born between January 1, 2025 and Jan 28, 2025 is still a dragon, not a snake. January and early-February birthdays always need the exact Chinese New Year date, listed in the table above.
This site uses the Chinese New Year boundary convention — read how the zodiac year boundary works on the calculator page.
Am I a dragon?
Enter your full birth date and the calculator will apply the exact Chinese New Year boundary for your birth year.
Check my zodiac animalThe dragon in Chinese culture
The dragon was the emblem of imperial China: emperors wore dragon robes, sat on a dragon throne, and called themselves the true dragon. Unlike the fire-breathing dragons of European legend, the Chinese 龙 is a benevolent creature associated with rain, rivers and authority, and it remains a symbol of power and good fortune rather than menace.
Many Chinese people describe themselves as 龙的传人 ("descendants of the dragon"), a phrase that turned the dragon into a marker of cultural identity. The sign is so esteemed that demographers have documented birth-rate spikes in dragon years in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities, as some families time births to give a child a dragon year. People born in dragon years are traditionally said to be confident, ambitious and charismatic — cultural beliefs about the sign, not facts about any individual.
Dragon idioms (成语) featuring 龙
龙马精神 lóng mǎ jīng shén
Literally: the spirit of the dragon-horse.
vigorous vitality and drive; often used to wish older people continued health and energy.
望子成龙 wàng zǐ chéng lóng
Literally: hope one's son becomes a dragon.
to hope one's child achieves great success; describes the high hopes parents place on their children.
画龙点睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng
Literally: paint the dragon, then dot the eyes.
the crucial finishing touch that brings a piece of work to life.
Year of the Dragon FAQ
Was 2024 the year of the dragon?
Yes, but only from Feb 10, 2024. The dragon year ran from Feb 10, 2024 to Jan 28, 2025. Babies born in January or early February 2024, before Chinese New Year, are rabbits rather than dragons.
Is 2025 the year of the dragon or the snake?
Mostly the snake. The dragon year ended on Jan 28, 2025, and the snake year began on Chinese New Year, Jan 29, 2025. Only the first few weeks of 2025 — January 1 through Jan 28, 2025 — still belong to the dragon.
I was born in February 2000 — am I a dragon or a rabbit?
It depends on the day. Chinese New Year 2000 fell on Feb 5, 2000: born on or after that date you are a dragon, born between February 1 and Feb 4, 2000 you are a rabbit. The calculator on this site applies the exact boundary for you.
Why is the dragon special in the Chinese zodiac?
It is the only mythical creature among the twelve animals, and it carried the weight of imperial symbolism for centuries. That prestige survives today in phrases like 龙的传人 ("descendants of the dragon") and in the measurable rise in births that Chinese communities record in dragon years.