The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the traditional Chinese zodiac's 12-animal cycle.
The other eleven signs are familiar animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The Dragon is fifth in the standard sequence, after Rabbit and before Snake. In Chinese culture, dragons are traditionally associated with power, prosperity, rain, and imperial authority.
A common zodiac legend portrays the Dragon as capable of flying, but says it came fifth because it stopped to help people and animals by making rain. The story gives a moral explanation for its position rather than treating the Dragon as simply a contestant seeking victory.
The zodiac Dragon is distinct from dragons in European folklore. Chinese dragons are often depicted as long, serpentine beings without wings, yet able to fly or move through clouds. Dragon years are especially popular for births in some Chinese communities, although the zodiac sign is a cultural tradition rather than a scientific predictor of personality.