In Chinese mythology, Yinglong is the winged dragon associated with rain and the Yellow Emperor.
Yinglong is an important dragon figure in early Chinese mythological traditions. The name is commonly translated as “Responding Dragon” or “Responsive Dragon,” although translations vary because classical Chinese terms can carry several meanings. Unlike the long, or Chinese dragon, often shown without wings, Yinglong is specifically described as winged.
Myths connect Yinglong with the Yellow Emperor, a culture hero and legendary ancestor of early Chinese civilization. Yinglong also appears in stories involving major floods and battles. In one tradition, the dragon helps Yu the Great control floodwaters by using its tail to mark channels or waterways.
Yinglong is sometimes confused with the Dragon Kings, known as Longwang, who rule bodies of water in later popular religion. They are not the same figure. Yinglong is a distinct mythological dragon whose stories combine storm power, warfare, imperial legend, and flood control.