Chinese calendar, based on Chinese lunar calendar gives chines current date, month, year and also Tiangan - Heavenly Stem or Celestial Stem and Dizhi - Earthly Branch
Chinese year has an animal to it and the cycle is based on 12 Animals as per Chinese Calendar Year!
Each year is represented by One animal and that comes in cycle of 12 Animals.
The 12 Chinese horoscope animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
Chinese calendar year does not start on January 1st. They have their own calculation and mostly it starts from mid of January - like month of 'Thai' for Tamils. Sometimes, the year starts from middle February.