Chinese Culture

What to see in China Apart from popular destinations such as Beijing, there are many other places worth seeing: Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Lijiang, Jiuzhaigou, Yellow Mountain, ...

In China, people assocaite years with animals, the so called Chinese animal years, animal signs (shengxiao) or zodiac. There are 12 animals rotating every 12 years: rat (mouse), ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (boar).

The legend says that the order of the zodiac was determined through a race. The rat, who is clear enough to offer the ox the direction and standed on the ox's head and jumped ahead of him when they reached the finish line. So the rat becomes the first animal in the Zodiac.

Another legend says that the rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs. The cat and rat were good friends, but the rat tricked him into believing that the banquet was the next day. When the cat found out, he already missed the banquet. And that why the cat has been chasing the rat for thousands of year -- well, until recent years.

Each animal has its own attributes: good or bad.

Rat 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020	Charismatic, Sociable, Intelligent, Affable, Quick-Witted, Popular Exploitive, Calculative, Secretive, Greedy, Acquisitive, Devious
Ox 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021	Honest, Loyal, Popular, Sincere, Steadfast, Reliable Stubborn, Impatient, Inflexible, Narrow-Minded, Sulking
Tiger 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022	Enthusiastic, Optimistic, Courageous, Bold, Sociable, Energetic Volatile, Impulsive, Hot-headed, Restless, Disobedient, Vain, Stubborn
Rabbit 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023	Astute, Thoughtful, Refined, Docile, Wise Cunning, Snobbish, Possessive, Fussy, Obsessive
Dragon 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024	Resourceful, Self-Assured, Adaptable, Original, Valiant, Enthusiastic Arrogant, Hot-headed, Unpredictable, Critical, Irritable, Discourteous
Snake 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025	Insightful, Shrewd, Discreet, Wise, Compassionate, Subtle Proud, Manipulative, Malicious, Possessive, Vain, Sluggish
Horse 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026	Friendly, Vivacious, Enduring, Witty, Cheerful, Refined, Independent Selfish, Reckless, Vain, Impatient, Volatile
Sheep 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027	Intelligent, Artistic, Gentle, Kind, Cultured, Sensitive Fussy, Insecure, Ingratiative, Self-Indulgent, Dependent
Monkey 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028	Persuasive, Resourceful, Good-Humoured, Ingenious, Versatile, Imaginative Superficial, Restless, Impudent, Sly, Mischievousness, Untruthful
Rooster 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029	Passionate, Resilient, Patriotic, Industrious, Courageous, Protective Conceited, Blunt, Rude, Bossy, Aggressive, Impatient
Dog 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030	Devoted, Resilient, Unselfish, Honest, Resourceful, Reliable Nosy, Cynical, Cantakerous, Pessimistic, Anxious, Introverted
Pig 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031	Sincere, Diligent, Genuine, Obliging, Generous, Friendly Materialistic, Pigheaded, Gullible, Naive, Lazy, Superficial

The Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) usually starts at the end of January or in Feburary in western calender, but more and more people are disregarding the difference.