‘Huangli’ (黄历) is the traditional Chinese almanac, a lunar calendar that incorporates astronomy, astrology, and folk customs. The character ‘黄’ (huáng) literally means ‘yellow’—a color historically associated with imperial authority and the Yellow Emperor, to whom the earliest versions of this calendar were attributed. ‘历’ (lì) means ‘calendar’ or ‘almanac’. Together, 黄历 refers to the culturally rich system used for selecting auspicious dates for weddings, moving house, starting businesses, or even beginning medical treatment.

Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the huangli marks each day with information about favorable and unfavorable activities, zodiac animals, elemental phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and seasonal nodes. It remains widely consulted in Chinese communities today, especially during festivals and life milestones. Though modern life has reduced daily reliance, many families still keep a printed huangli at home or consult digital versions before important decisions.