In Chinese mythology, Yinglong helped Yu the Great control the floods.
Yinglong is a winged dragon associated with rain and water control. In flood legends, the dragon assists Yu by using its tail to mark or carve channels through which the waters could flow. Yu’s success allowed him to drain the catastrophic floods and establish the Xia dynasty in traditional Chinese history.
The story belongs to a broader group of Chinese flood myths in which engineering, ritual authority, and supernatural assistance work together. Yu is celebrated not simply for defeating the waters, but for guiding them into channels and rivers. Yinglong’s role therefore complements Yu’s practical flood-control strategy.
Yinglong should not be confused with Tianlong, the celestial dragon, or the Longwang, the Dragon Kings who rule bodies of water. It is also different from Fucanglong, a subterranean dragon associated with hidden treasures. Yinglong’s most distinctive identifying feature is its wings and its connection with Yu’s flood-control work.