The Year 2001 (Golden Snake) is the 4698th Chinese year. The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first emperor of China who completed the Great Wall). The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4698th year on February 4th. 2001. Also, the Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting systems and the Golden Snake is the 18th Stem-Branch in the cycle. Since 4698 = (60 *78) + 18, therefore this Golden Snake Year is the 4698th Chinese Year.

Some web sites say the year 2001 is the 4699th Chinese year. If you cannot find the explanation from there, here is a possible answer for you. The Yellow King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C.. But the calendar of Yellow King used the winter solstice day as the first day of the year. So the first winter solstice was on around December 23rd. 2698 B.C.. Today's January 1st means nothing to Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days in 2698 B.C. for a year, then year 2001 is the 4699th Chinese year.

Andy - Las Vegas