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Chinese New Year Animal: What Your Zodiac Means For 2014 Travel

Where Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Says To Go This Year

The world welcomed the start of the new year with voracious applause and fireworks, and now it's time to do it again.

Yes, the countdown to 2015 is still many months away, but the start of a new Lunar New Year is fast approaching. This won't mean much for some, but for globe-trotters, Jan. 31 will be a hectic time for travel. An estimated 3.6 billion trips are expected to be made during the Chinese New Year holiday, according to officials with the Chinese government.

Most of the trips are expected to take place within Asia but the countdown to Chinese New Year always brings a renewed sense of mysticism around the world. Each New Year ushers in a new zodiac animal, the Eastern equivalent of horoscopes.

Zodiac animals are divided up into 12 creatures and are assigned according to the year you're born, rather than the day. Similar to astrological horoscopes, zodiac animals govern many aspects of life including wealth, health, romance and even travel.

This year brings the year of the horse, making it a fortuitous year to travel if you're born in the year of the monkey, rat, or dragon, according to Paul Ng, a Toronto-area philosopher and geomancer.

As with many predictions using astrology, there's always a healthy-level of skepticism. But Ng, who makes his predictions based on mathematical calculations, has a solid track record.

Last year, the former computer scientist predicted 2013 would be a good year for airlines. In December 2013, a lobby group predicted airlines would reap in a record-high USD$12.9 billion in profits, according to Reuters.

For the average traveller, Ng suggests the west and south-west parts of countries to expect a boom in popularity for 2014. For his other predictions, take a look at Ng's breakdown for your zodiac animal. And if you're not sure what your zodiac animal is, give this site a visit.

The Horse (2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930)

What Does Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Mean For 2014 Travel?

With previous files from Rebecca Zamon and Brian Vinh Tien Trinh

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