Chinese Calendar Calculator

Switch Between Western & Chinese Calendars

If you’ve ever tried figuring out what a Chinese New Year date translates to on the Western calendar—or the other way around—you know it’s not always simple. That’s exactly what this dual calendar converter helps solve. Whether you're planning around traditional holidays or just curious about zodiac years, this tool helps make those cross-calendar connections quick and clear.

Two Calendars, One Simple Tool

This converter lets you switch between Gregorian (Western) dates and Chinese lunar calendar dates with just a few clicks. It also brings in extra context like zodiac animals, elements (like Fire or Water), and whether the year leans Yin or Yang. You don’t have to know anything about lunar phases or 60-year cycles to use it. Just pick your date, choose your direction, and the results appear instantly.

Why use it?

• Planning for Lunar New Year: Know exactly when it lands on the Western calendar.
• Checking birthdays: See someone’s zodiac animal or element based on birthdate.
• Learning and exploring: Understand how the lunar calendar lines up with your usual one.

Step-by-Step: Using the Calendar Converter

Choose Your Mode

At the heart of the tool is a simple choice: are you converting from Gregorian to Chinese, or the other way around? Select the option that fits your goal. The interface shifts based on your pick.

For Gregorian to Chinese:

1. Select a date using the calendar input.
2. Choose your time zone from the dropdown (defaults to UTC).
3. The tool instantly shows the corresponding Chinese lunar date, year, zodiac animal, element, and Yin/Yang balance.

For Chinese to Gregorian:

1. Pick a year, month, and day from the dropdowns.
2. You'll see the closest Gregorian date based on approximate lunar month lengths.
3. It also displays zodiac traits and a formatted result for clarity.

What Else Can It Do?

See the Time in Your Zone

Right below the calendar controls, the tool shows the live time based on your selected time zone. You can toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour formats with a single click.

Automatic Input Sync

Any change you make—whether it’s the year or the time zone—updates the results in real-time. You don’t have to press the convert button unless you want to.

Zodiac and Element Details

Each result includes the zodiac sign (like Dragon 🐉 or Pig 🐷), its core traits, the traditional element for that year, and its Yin or Yang designation. It’s more than just a date—it’s a snapshot of traditional Chinese astrology for that point in time.

Common Questions That Might Come Up

Why do some results seem “approximate”?

The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, which means it's tied to both moon cycles and solar terms. This tool uses simplified math based on known New Year dates and average lunar month lengths. For casual use, it’s very close—but it’s not intended for official historical research.

What if I don’t see a zodiac animal for my year?

Make sure your Gregorian date is correct and falls after the Chinese New Year for that year. Dates in January often still belong to the previous Chinese year.

Does the tool account for leap months?

Not precisely. Since leap months vary and don’t follow a fixed pattern, they’re not factored in for conversions. But for general use, the tool’s logic stays accurate within a day or two.

Keep Dates Clear—East or West

This converter takes the guesswork out of switching between two very different calendar systems. Whether you're looking up your zodiac sign or trying to sync schedules with someone across the world, it helps you keep things on track without flipping through charts or doing mental math. Just pick a date, and let it handle the rest.