A practical path through a lunisolar system
The Chinese Calendar, Made Legible
Start with the date, year, season, or family question you have, then use OrientLore’s Chinese calendar tools and carefully sourced guides.
MoonNew moons begin the months
SeasonSolar terms hold the annual frame
The calendar keeps both in view.
Start with your question
You do not need to learn the whole system first.
“Chinese calendar” can mean a date conversion, a festival schedule, a seasonal marker, or a year boundary. Choose the question that brought you here; every route connects the answer back to its cultural and calendrical context.
- 01
I have a date
Convert it without losing its context
Move between Gregorian and Chinese lunar dates, then learn how to read the result—including regular and leap months.
- 02
I am planning a year
See festivals in chronological order
Choose a year from 1900 through 2100 and see which observances follow lunar dates and which are tied to solar terms.
- 03
I am following the seasons
Trace the Sun through twenty-four terms
Understand the seasonal framework first, or look up the calculated date and China Standard Time for every term in a selected year.
- 04
Why does the date move?
Follow the lunar and solar rules together
New moons create months; solar terms keep them connected to the seasons. These guides explain the moving parts without shortcuts.
- 05
I have a birth year
Check age and zodiac at the correct boundary
Chinese age conventions and zodiac years answer different questions. Use the relevant tool and pay attention to the Lunar New Year boundary.
One useful distinction
A calculated date is not a universal custom.
The tools answer calendar questions using deterministic rules and clearly stated ranges. Festival observance, birthday practice, naming, and family convention can still vary by region and community. The guides tell you where calculation ends and lived practice begins.