Fengshui Zen

Born outside China: time zones and your Chinese zodiac animal

Last checked · written by the Fengshui Zen team; figures calculated from the same checked data as the calendar pages

The Chinese calendar is computed in China Standard Time (UTC+8). That makes no difference to the popular zodiac rule, which only asks whether you were born before or after the Chinese New Year date. It does make a difference to the Four Pillars rule, which starts the zodiac year at Lichun, an exact moment.

In February London is 8 hours behind Beijing, New York 13 and Los Angeles 16. When Lichun falls before 08:00 Beijing time it is still the previous day in London, and before 13:00 it is the previous day in New York. In 2026, Lichun was 04:02 on February 4, 2026 in Beijing and 15:02 on February 3, 2026 in New York.

Check a birth by date, local time and place

Chinese New Year rule (popular)

Wood Snake (2025)

Lichun rule (Four Pillars)

Wood Snake (2025)

Chinese New Year 2026: 2026-02-17. Lichun 2026: 2026-02-04 04:02 Beijing time. The New Year rule compares your birth date with the New Year date; the Lichun rule compares the exact moment, converted from your local time.

How to apply each rule abroad

Lichun in local time, 2015 to 2026

Local date and time of Lichun in four cities. In each case a birth at or after the time shown takes the new animal under the Lichun rule.

YearBeijingNew YorkLos AngelesLondonSydney
2015Feb 4 11:58Feb 3 22:58Feb 3 19:58Feb 4 03:58Feb 4 14:58
2016Feb 4 17:46Feb 4 04:46Feb 4 01:46Feb 4 09:46Feb 4 20:46
2017Feb 3 23:34Feb 3 10:34Feb 3 07:34Feb 3 15:34Feb 4 02:34
2018Feb 4 05:28Feb 3 16:28Feb 3 13:28Feb 3 21:28Feb 4 08:28
2019Feb 4 11:14Feb 3 22:14Feb 3 19:14Feb 4 03:14Feb 4 14:14
2020Feb 4 17:03Feb 4 04:03Feb 4 01:03Feb 4 09:03Feb 4 20:03
2021Feb 3 22:58Feb 3 09:58Feb 3 06:58Feb 3 14:58Feb 4 01:58
2022Feb 4 04:50Feb 3 15:50Feb 3 12:50Feb 3 20:50Feb 4 07:50
2023Feb 4 10:42Feb 3 21:42Feb 3 18:42Feb 4 02:42Feb 4 13:42
2024Feb 4 16:27Feb 4 03:27Feb 4 00:27Feb 4 08:27Feb 4 19:27
2025Feb 3 22:10Feb 3 09:10Feb 3 06:10Feb 3 14:10Feb 4 01:10
2026Feb 4 04:02Feb 3 15:02Feb 3 12:02Feb 3 20:02Feb 4 07:02

Older birth dates

Time zones and clock rules have changed over the years. Singapore and Malaysia were on UTC+7:20 or UTC+7:30 for most of the years before 1982, and Taiwan and Korea were on Japanese time (UTC+9) in the early 1940s. The year pages and the finder use the official clock time of each place on the date, so a 1940 birth in Taipei is compared using the clock Taipei used in 1940. Each year page, such as 1940, shows Lichun in ten cities.

FAQ

I was born in New York on February 3, 2026, at 4 pm. Which animal am I?

Under the popular New Year rule you are a Wood Snake, because the 2026 New Year was February 17, 2026. Under the Four Pillars rule you are a Fire Horse: Lichun 2026 was 04:02 on Feb 4 in Beijing, which was 15:02 on Feb 3 in New York, before your birth.

Should I convert my birth date to Beijing time for the New Year rule?

No. The New Year rule compares the date on your birth certificate with the Chinese New Year date, and the New Year is celebrated on that date everywhere. Only the Lichun rule, which uses an exact moment, needs your birth time converted.

Does daylight saving time matter?

Rarely for Lichun, which falls in early February when most of the Northern Hemisphere is on standard time. It does matter in the Southern Hemisphere: Sydney is on daylight saving time in February. The finder uses each place's official clock time for the date, including historical changes.

Data pages for this guide

Find your animal by exact date2026 zodiac yearThe 24 solar terms

More guides

This guide explains the traditional calendar; it is not a prediction or advice. How the dates are calculated.