Chinese New Year 2024: the Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival (春节), is the biggest and most notable festival in China. It marks the start of a New Year and symbolizes new beginnings and fresh starts.

When is Chinese New Year 2024?

Chinese New Year 2024 falls on Saturday, February 10th, 2024 and it marks the beginning of the zodiac year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year 2023 Date & Calendar

Officially, the public holiday runs for 7-8 days. For Chinese New Year 2024, it’s from February 10th to February 17th. Unofficially, celebrations last up to 16 days from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month). In 2024, it’s fromFebruary 9th to February 24th.

The most important dates of Chinese New Year 2024 are:

  • Chinese New Year’s Eve: February 9th, 2024
  • Chinese New Year: February 10th, 2024
  • the Lantern Festival: February 24th, 2024
  • What is the Chinese New Year 2024 Animal? —— Dragon

    Chinese New Year 2024 animal is dragon, which means 2024 is the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac. By the way, Chinese New Year 2025 animal will be Snake.

    The recent and incoming years of the Rabbit are 1927, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, and 2036. If you were born in one of these years, you were probably born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rabbit.

    Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs

    People born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be wise, energetic, aspiring, romantic, strong-minded, ambitious, confident, and also honest, forthright and sincere.

    There are 12 Chinese new year animals signs on the Chinese zodiac. Aside from the Rabbit, the other Chinese new year animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. You can check out our Chinese zodiac page to find your own zodiac animal sign.

    When is Chinese New Year?

    You may wonder why Chinese New Year is always on a different date each year. Because the date of Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese Lunar Calender rather than the Gregorian calendar.

    Chinese New Year, aka Lunar New Year, is the first day of the second new Moon after the Winter Solstice, usually falling between January 21 and February 20.

    How Long is Chinese New Year 2024?

    Traditionally, Chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year for 16 days. It starts from Chinese New Year’s Eve and ends with the rise of the first full Moon of the lunar calendar two weeks later which also happens to be the Lantern Festival. Celebrations of Chinese New Year 2024 is from February 9th to February 24th.

    But China’s public holiday for Chinese New Year is 8 days from Chinese New Year to the 7th day of the first lunar month. So, in 2024, that is from February 10th to February 17th.

    Different from mainland China, public holiday for Chinese New Year in Hong Kong and Macao is 3 days.

    How to Wish Someone a Happy Chinese New Year 2024?

    1. 新年好

  • In Mandarin: xīn nián hǎo
  • In Cantonese: sun nin ho
  • Instead of saying 你好 (nǐ hǎo), Chinese people usually greet one another saying “xīn nián hǎo” during Chinese New Year. It’s the most commonly used Chinese New Year greeting in Mandarin, meaning “good new year” essentially.

    2. 新年快乐

  • In Mandarin: xīn nián kuài lè
  • In Cantonese: sun nin fai lok
  • You may also hear Chinese people say “xīn nián kuài lè” to wish someone a happy Chinese New Year. It’s a more formal greeting than “xīn nián hǎo”. This greeting literally means “New Year happiness”. You can also use it during the regular Jan 1st New Year.

    3. 恭喜发财

  • In Mandarin: gōng xǐ fā cái
  • In Cantonese: gong hei fat choy
  • “Gong hei fat choy” is the most common Chinese New Year greeting in Cantonese, which means wishing you happiness and prosperity. This greeting is commonly spoken in Hong Kong, parts of southern China, and wherever the Cantonese dialect is spoken, such as Chinatowns.

    Chinese New Year Greetings for 2024 Dragon Year

    As the Chinese New Year animal 2024 is Dragon, Chinese people love using near homophones with the Chinese word for dragon (loong) to greet people. Here are some of the most popular greetings for the year of the Dragon 2024.

    1. 生龙活虎

  • In Mandarin: shēng lóng huó hǔ
  • Meaning: Full of vim and vigour
  • 2. 龙吟虎啸

  • In Mandarin: lóng yín hǔ xiào
  • Meaning: (It was like) the snorting of dragons, the howling of tigers.
  • 3. 骑龙弄凤

  • In Mandarin: qí lóng nòng fèng
  • Meaning: Currying favor with the rich and powerful
  • When is the next Chinese New Year 2025?

    Chinese New Year 2025 will fall on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025 and it will mark the start of the year of Snake.

    Chinese New Year Calender & Dates in 2024, 2025, 2026 and more

    The table below showcases when Chinese New Year is from 2021 to 2032 and what the Chinese New Year animal signs are for each year respectively.

    YearDateDayHolidayAnimal Sign
    2021Feb. 12FridayFeb. 11-17Ox
    2022Feb. 1TuesdayJan. 31 - Feb. 6Tiger
    2023Jan. 22SundayJan. 21-27Rabbit
    2024Feb. 10SaturdayFeb. 9-15Dragon
    2025Jan. 29WednesdayJan. 28 - Feb. 3Snake
    2026Feb. 17TuesdayFeb. 16-22Horse
    2027Feb. 6SaturdayFeb. 5-11Goat
    2028Jan. 26WednesdayJan. 25-31Monkey
    2029Feb. 13TuesdayFeb. 12-18Rooster
    2030Feb. 3SundayFeb. 2-8Dog
    2031Jan. 23ThursdayJan. 22-28Pig
    2032Feb. 11WednesdayFeb. 10-16Rat

    Where to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2024

  • Beiijng, the capital of China, is an over 3000-year-old city with splendid Spring Festival culture and traditions that can be experienced in the Temple Fair. 
  • Harbin is also a popular destination for Chinese Lunar New Year for its Ice Festival and various activities on snow and ice.
  • Hong Kong, Yunnan, Sanya, and South China, because of the warm weather and natural beauty in winter and early spring, are also nice option to enjoy the holiday.
  • Popular Chinese New Year Tour

    14-day Lunar New Year tour to Guizhou with various cultural activities and grand celebration

    Further Reading about Chinese New Year

  • Chinese New Year Traditions
  • Chinese New Year Food: Top Foods to Bring You Good Fortune
  • 15-Day Celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year
  • Top 10 Chinese New Year Lucky Foods and Symblism
  • Top 10 Chinese New Year Legends and Stories
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