The Chinese dragon (龙) is a symbol of power, luck, and imperial authority — completely different from Western dragons. Emperors were called 真龙天子 ("true dragon, son of heaven") and dragon robes were reserved for royalty.
culture
Dragon years are the most popular for having babies in China. Hospitals see a noticeable spike in births during 龙年 because parents believe dragon children will be powerful and successful.
history
The traditional character 龍 is one of the most complex common characters. The simplified 龙 is dramatically simpler — this is one of the most extreme simplifications in the whole system.
