Chinese zodiac · explore
Chinese zodiac months
The Tiger solar month starts at Li Chun, Rabbit at Jing Zhe and Dragon at Qing Ming. Each solar animal month opens at a Jie solar-term instant.
Rat solar month · 子
Opens at Major Snow: 7 Dec 2026, 10:52. Ends at 5 Jan 2027, 22:09, when the next solar month opens. Times use China Standard Time (UTC+08:00).
The twelve solar-month openings
Tiger · 寅
立春 · Start of Spring
Spring · ENE
Rabbit · 卯
惊蛰 · Awakening of Insects
Spring · E
Dragon · 辰
清明 · Pure Brightness
Spring · ESE
Snake · 巳
立夏 · Start of Summer
Summer · SSE
Horse · 午
芒种 · Grain in Ear
Summer · S
Goat · 未
小暑 · Minor Heat
Summer · SSW
Monkey · 申
立秋 · Start of Autumn
Autumn · WSW
Rooster · 酉
白露 · White Dew
Autumn · W
Dog · 戌
寒露 · Cold Dew
Autumn · WNW
Pig · 亥
立冬 · Start of Winter
Winter · NNW
Rat · 子
大雪 · Major Snow
Winter · N
Ox · 丑
小寒 · Minor Cold
Winter · NNE
Numbered lunar months follow new moons and can include a leap month. Solar animal months follow Jie openings, so “the first lunar month” and “Tiger solar month” do not describe identical date intervals.