The Chinese zodiac & birth-year astrology

The Chinese zodiac — a twelve-year cycle of animal signs based on birth year — remains a genuine, everyday point of reference in Hong Kong, well beyond a novelty topic reserved for Lunar New Year alone.

The twelve signs

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig cycle in order every twelve years, each associated with particular character traits in popular belief — asking someone's zodiac sign is a common, casual way to make conversation, similar to asking a Western star sign.

Zodiac compatibility

Some people consult zodiac compatibility between signs for relationships or business partnerships, an extension of the same broader fortune-telling tradition covered in our fortune telling guide.

The Year of the Dragon and other significant years

The Dragon is considered the most auspicious sign, and birth rates in Hong Kong (and across much of the Chinese-speaking world) have historically ticked up slightly in Dragon years, as some families deliberately plan around it.

Where you'll encounter it

Lunar New Year decorations and merchandise are built heavily around that year's specific animal (see our festival planning guide), and restaurant place mats or fortune-telling booths (see our fortune telling guide) often include a zodiac compatibility chart as a bit of casual entertainment.