The Chinese Zodiac Calendar

Updated December 27, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

The Years of the Zodiac

The Chinese lunisolar calendar is divided into 12 months of 29 or 30 days. The calendar is adjusted to the length of the solar year by the addition of extra months at regular intervals. The years are arranged in major cycles of 60 years. Each successive year is named after one of 12 animals. (Learn more about the Chinese Zodiac.) These 12-year cycles are continuously repeated. The Chinese New Year is celebrated at the second new moon after the winter solstice and falls between January 21 and February 19 on the Gregorian calendar. The year 2010 translates to the Chinese year 4707-4708; the Chinese calendar year corresponds to the mythical reign of the Yellow Emperor, the founder of China. 

Note: The lunar years don't actually directly correspond to the Gregorian years. They begin in late January/early February in the years listed below; e.g. the Year of the Rat began in January 1960, and ran until February 1961.