Learning Materials
Chinese Calendars
China keeps time on more than one calendar at once. A single day carries a Gregorian date for work and the world, a lunar date for festivals and family, an animal year, and a solar term that names the season. Here are the four systems — and how they fit together.
Today, in Four Calendars
September 20, 2026 · Sunday
Convert Any Date
Pick any day from 1900–2100 and see it across all four systems.
The Four Systems
The Gregorian Calendar
When you check a date in China today—on your phone, a train ticket, or a business contract—you're reading the Gregorian calendar, known as 公历 (gōnglì, "public calendar") or 阳历 (yánglì, "sun calendar").
ExploreThe Traditional Chinese Calendar
Behind every Chinese festival—the firecrackers of 春节, the dragon boats of 端午, the mooncakes of 中秋—runs the traditional calendar, 农历 (nónglì).
ExploreThe Chinese Zodiac & Stem-Branch Cycle
Ask a Chinese person their 生肖 (shēngxiào) and they'll tell you their animal—Rat, Ox, Tiger, and so on through a cycle of twelve.
ExploreThe 24 Solar Terms
Long before weather apps, Chinese farmers read the seasons through the 二十四节气 (èrshísì jiéqì), the 24 solar terms.
Explore