Mandarin Zest Year of the Pig 猪 The Pig is the twelfth and last animal of the Chinese zodiac. It came last in the Great Race after stopping for a meal and a nap, and still made it in. In Chinese culture, that relaxed attitude goes w... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Dog 狗 The Dog is the eleventh animal of the Chinese zodiac: loyal, honest and protective. For thousands of years dogs guarded Chinese homes and fields, and in the zodiac the Dog stands for faithfulness, jus... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Rooster 鸡 The Rooster is the tenth animal of the Chinese zodiac and its alarm clock. Proud, punctual and hardworking, it wakes the world every morning and chases away the spirits of the night. In Chinese, its n... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Monkey 猴 The Monkey is the ninth animal of the Chinese zodiac: clever, curious and impossible to ignore. Its most famous representative is the Monkey King, the trickster hero who fought heaven itself. The next... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Goat 羊 The Goat is the eighth animal of the Chinese zodiac, and the next one up: the Year of the Fire Goat begins on 6 February 2027. Gentle, creative and kind, the Goat is the sign of peace, beauty and good... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Horse 马 The Horse is the seventh animal of the Chinese zodiac, and it's the animal of the year right now: the Year of the Fire Horse began on 17 February 2026. Fast, free-spirited and full of energy, the Hors... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Snake 蛇 The Snake is the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac. In the West it has a bad reputation, but in Chinese culture it's the sign of wisdom, intuition and elegance, with a flattering nickname to match: t... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Dragon 龙 The Dragon is the fifth animal of the Chinese zodiac and the only one that doesn't exist. That hasn't stopped it from being the most admired sign of all: for two thousand years the dragon was the embl... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Rabbit 兔 The Rabbit is the fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac. Gentle and graceful, it's the sign of peace, good taste and quiet intelligence. It also has the most romantic address in Chinese mythology: the m... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Tiger 虎 The Tiger is the third animal of the Chinese zodiac and the king of the mountain. Brave, magnetic and a little unpredictable, it has protected Chinese homes, temples and babies for centuries. In this ... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Ox 牛 The Ox is the second animal of the Chinese zodiac: strong, patient and dependable. For thousands of years it pulled the plough in Chinese fields, and its character in the zodiac reflects that. Hard wo... Culture Nov 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Year of the Rat 鼠 The Rat is the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Small, quick and endlessly resourceful, it beat much bigger animals to the top spot with one clever move. In Chinese culture the Rat s... Culture Oct 30, 2026
