# Chinese New Year 2016

> Chinese New Year 2016 is on February 8, 2016, beginning the Year of the Fire Monkey (丙申, Bing Shen), which lasts until January 27, 2017. Until then it is still the Year of the Wood Goat. In BaZi, which counts years from the solar term Start of Spring (Li Chun), the 2016 year begins on February 4, 2016 at 5:45 PM Beijing time (09:45 UTC). This lunar year has 12 months and no leap month.

Canonical page: https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/year/2016

## Festivals

| Festival | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) | 2016-02-08 |
| Lantern Festival | 2016-02-22 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | 2016-06-09 |
| Qixi Festival | 2016-08-09 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | 2016-09-15 |
| Double Ninth Festival | 2016-10-09 |

## Lunar Months

| Month | Starts | Days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Month | 2016-02-08 | 30 |
| Second Month | 2016-03-09 | 29 |
| Third Month | 2016-04-07 | 30 |
| Fourth Month | 2016-05-07 | 29 |
| Fifth Month | 2016-06-05 | 29 |
| Sixth Month | 2016-07-04 | 30 |
| Seventh Month | 2016-08-03 | 29 |
| Eighth Month | 2016-09-01 | 30 |
| Ninth Month | 2016-10-01 | 30 |
| Tenth Month | 2016-10-31 | 29 |
| Eleventh Month | 2016-11-29 | 30 |
| Twelfth Month | 2016-12-29 | 30 |

## Solar Terms 2016

| Term | Begins (UTC) | Day in Beijing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minor Cold (Xiaohan, 小寒) | 2016-01-05 22:08 | 2016-01-06 |
| Major Cold (Dahan, 大寒) | 2016-01-20 15:27 | 2016-01-20 |
| Start of Spring (Lichun, 立春) | 2016-02-04 09:45 | 2016-02-04 |
| Rain Water (Yushui, 雨水) | 2016-02-19 05:33 | 2016-02-19 |
| Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe, 惊蛰) | 2016-03-05 03:43 | 2016-03-05 |
| Spring Equinox (Chunfen, 春分) | 2016-03-20 04:30 | 2016-03-20 |
| Clear and Bright (Qingming, 清明) | 2016-04-04 08:27 | 2016-04-04 |
| Grain Rain (Guyu, 谷雨) | 2016-04-19 15:29 | 2016-04-19 |
| Start of Summer (Lixia, 立夏) | 2016-05-05 01:41 | 2016-05-05 |
| Grain Buds (Xiaoman, 小满) | 2016-05-20 14:36 | 2016-05-20 |
| Grain in Ear (Mangzhong, 芒种) | 2016-06-05 05:48 | 2016-06-05 |
| Summer Solstice (Xiazhi, 夏至) | 2016-06-20 22:34 | 2016-06-21 |
| Minor Heat (Xiaoshu, 小暑) | 2016-07-06 16:03 | 2016-07-07 |
| Major Heat (Dashu, 大暑) | 2016-07-22 09:30 | 2016-07-22 |
| Start of Autumn (Liqiu, 立秋) | 2016-08-07 01:53 | 2016-08-07 |
| End of Heat (Chushu, 处暑) | 2016-08-22 16:38 | 2016-08-23 |
| White Dew (Bailu, 白露) | 2016-09-07 04:51 | 2016-09-07 |
| Autumn Equinox (Qiufen, 秋分) | 2016-09-22 14:21 | 2016-09-22 |
| Cold Dew (Hanlu, 寒露) | 2016-10-07 20:33 | 2016-10-08 |
| Frost's Descent (Shuangjiang, 霜降) | 2016-10-22 23:45 | 2016-10-23 |
| Start of Winter (Lidong, 立冬) | 2016-11-06 23:47 | 2016-11-07 |
| Minor Snow (Xiaoxue, 小雪) | 2016-11-21 21:22 | 2016-11-22 |
| Major Snow (Daxue, 大雪) | 2016-12-06 16:41 | 2016-12-07 |
| Winter Solstice (Dongzhi, 冬至) | 2016-12-21 10:44 | 2016-12-21 |

## Questions

### When Is Chinese New Year 2016?

Chinese New Year 2016 is on February 8, 2016, beginning the Year of the Fire Monkey (丙申, Bing Shen), which lasts until January 27, 2017. Until then it is still the Year of the Wood Goat. In BaZi, which counts years from the solar term Start of Spring (Li Chun), the 2016 year begins on February 4, 2016 at 5:45 PM Beijing time (09:45 UTC). This lunar year has 12 months and no leap month.

### What Chinese Zodiac Animal Is 2016?

2016 is mostly the Year of the Fire Monkey (丙申), from February 8, 2016. Dates before then belong to the Year of the Wood Goat.

### Which Signs Offend Tai Sui in 2016?

In the Year of the Fire Monkey, the signs traditionally said to be in conflict with Tai Sui, the year's ruling deity, are Monkey (birth year), Tiger (clash and punishment), Pig (harm) and Snake (punishment and break).

### Does the 2016 Lunar Year Have a Leap Month?

No. The lunar year beginning in 2016 has 12 months.

### When Is the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2016?

The Mid-Autumn Festival, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, falls on September 15, 2016.

### Why Do Some Calendars Give a Different Date?

Dates are computed astronomically, following the rules of the modern Chinese calendar (GB/T 33661-2017): days in China Standard Time (UTC+8), months starting on the day of the new moon, the winter solstice always in the eleventh month, and leap months placed in the first month without a principal solar term. Solar terms are the moments the Sun reaches each 15 degree point of its path, computed with the Astronomy Engine library. Years before 1929 used Beijing local time, so a handful of historical dates can differ by one day from older almanacs.

## Method

Dates are computed astronomically, following the rules of the modern Chinese calendar (GB/T 33661-2017): days in China Standard Time (UTC+8), months starting on the day of the new moon, the winter solstice always in the eleventh month, and leap months placed in the first month without a principal solar term. Solar terms are the moments the Sun reaches each 15 degree point of its path, computed with the Astronomy Engine library. Years before 1929 used Beijing local time, so a handful of historical dates can differ by one day from older almanacs.

Source: [Selfgazer](https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/year/2016). Free to cite with a link to the source page.