Guide · Calendar
Li Chun vs Chinese New Year
If you were born in January or February, your zodiac animal depends on which new year you count from. Chinese New Year moves with the moon; Li Chun (立春, Start of Spring) follows the sun. Feng shui and BaZi use Li Chun.
Two calendars in one
The traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar. Its months follow the moon, so Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, anywhere from 21 January to 20 February. Alongside it runs a purely solar calendar of 24 solar terms, which farmers relied on because the sun, not the moon, sets the seasons.
Li Chun is the first solar term. It happens when the sun reaches 315° of ecliptic longitude, which is always on 3, 4 or 5 February. BaZi and feng shui are built on the solar calendar, so for them the year, and the animal, changes at Li Chun.
Dates for 2020 to 2030
| Year | Li Chun | Chinese New Year | Animal from Li Chun |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 Feb | 25 Jan | Rat |
| 2021 | 3 Feb | 12 Feb | Ox |
| 2022 | 4 Feb | 1 Feb | Tiger |
| 2023 | 4 Feb | 22 Jan | Rabbit |
| 2024 | 4 Feb | 10 Feb | Dragon |
| 2025 | 3 Feb | 29 Jan | Snake |
| 2026 | 4 Feb | 17 Feb | Horse |
| 2027 | 4 Feb | 6 Feb | Goat |
| 2028 | 4 Feb | 26 Jan | Monkey |
| 2029 | 3 Feb | 13 Feb | Rooster |
| 2030 | 4 Feb | 3 Feb | Dog |
Li Chun dates are shown for Singapore and Malaysia (UTC+8). Always confirm against official almanac tables, such as the Hong Kong Observatory's, if you need exact times.
What this means for your birthday
Example 1: born 10 February 2026. Li Chun was 4 February 2026, so by the solar calendar you are a Horse. Chinese New Year was not until 17 February, so a lunar-calendar reading would call you a Snake.
Example 2: born 1 February 2025. Li Chun was 3 February 2025, so you are still a Dragon in BaZi, even though Chinese New Year (29 January) had already passed.
Anyone born between the two dates will get different answers from different sources. Neither is "wrong"; they answer different questions. For feng shui directions (your Kua Number) and BaZi, the solar year is the standard.
Born on Li Chun day itself?
Li Chun happens at a specific minute. If you were born on that day, the exact time decides your year. Our calculator counts Li Chun day as the new year and flags the date so you can check.
Double spring years
Because the lunar year varies in length, some lunar years contain two Li Chun dates and others none. The lunar year that began on 29 January 2025 included both 3 February 2025 and 4 February 2026, which is called a "double spring" (雙春) year. Folk tradition considers such years good for marriage.