The LEGO Group loves to come up with new and unique ideas for sets to be released for purchase to the general public, this subtheme is no different. With 2 billion people, yes, billion with a “B”, that celebrate the Chinese New Year, the market for old and new buyers is too large for any company to pass up, including the LEGO Group.
The LEGO Chinese New Year is a subtheme of the seasonal theme. Based on the Zodiac animals in the Chinese calendar this subtheme represents the 12 animals. These animals include a Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and a Pig. The original LEGO Chinese New Year subtheme set was released in 2013, the Year of the Snake.
The LEGO Chinese New Year Sets are well suited to collectors and fans who follow or are interested in the Chinese calendar and its animal representations. The sets are small, compact, and easily displayable for all to enjoy. To find out more about these Chinese New Year sets continue reading below for a more detailed description of each set that has been released.
LEGO Year of the Tiger 40491
RRP: Gift With Purchase
Year Released: 2022
Pieces: 192
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Tiger 40491 set was the seasonal Chinese New Year zodiac animal set available in 2022. The Tiger is the 3rd animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle.
The set includes 192 pieces to build the large, orange tiger. The tiger is built using a mixture of orange, black and white pieces to create the color pattern of the animal. To recreate the stripes of a tiger, a mixture of orange and black plates placed in alternating positions create the camouflage of the apex predator. Like the more recent sets in this subtheme, the tiger is placed on a bright green round base with red, pearl gold, and lime flowers and leaves.
LEGO Year of the Tiger 40491 was available as a Gift with Purchase in January 10, 2022 to January 27, 2022.
LEGO Year of the Ox 40417
RRP: Gift With Purchase
Year Released: 2021
Pieces: 168
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Ox 40417 was a seasonal set released in 2021 for the Chinese New Year. The Ox is the second animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents diligence, dependability, strength and determination.
The set features 168 pieces with which an Ox sitting on the ground surrounded by flowers can be built and displayed. The Ox features big round eyes, a tail, horns, articulating ears and front legs, though they look more like arms due to the nature of the pose the Ox is in.
LEGO Year of the Ox 40417 was available as a Gift with Purchase in February 2021.
LEGO Year of the Rat 40355
RRP: Gift With Purchase
Year Released: 2020
Pieces: 162
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Rat 40355 was a set released in 2020 for the Chinese New Year. The Rat is the 1st animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents quick-wittedness, resourcefulness, versatility, and kindness.
The set features 162 pieces with which an adorable brick-built rat can be assembled. The rat uses light and dark bluish gray features, and white hues to define the fur of the rat. The rat also uses pink pieces to create its nose and inner ear portions adding to the aesthetic of the set. The rat is placed on a round base with red, pearl gold, and olive green flowers. The front paws of the rat are able to rotate to allow them to be placed in multiple arrangements.
LEGO Year of the Rat 40355 was available as a Gift with Purchase in January 2020 from shop.LEGO.com
LEGO Year of the Pig 40186
RRP: $9.99
Year Released: 2019
Pieces: 152
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Pig 40186 was the Chinese New Year set for 2019. The Pig is the 12th and final animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents compassion, generosity, and diligence.
The set features 152 pieces with a large majority of them being pink to build an adorable looking pig. The pig include large, round white eyes, a nostril, and large ears. The pig also includes a dark pink tail to add more color and variation to a fairly monochromatic set.
As with the previous sets mentioned the pig comes on a round base surround by flowers for display purposes. The LEGO Year of the Pig 40186 was available as a seasonal exclusive set for purchase in 2019.
LEGO Year of the Dog 40235
RRP: Gift with Purchase
Year Released: 2018
Pieces: 156
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Dog 40235 was a seasonal set with limited release for the Chinese New Year in 2018. The Dog is the 11th animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents love, honesty, and prudence.
The set includes 156 pieces with which the adorable brick built dog can be created. The dog features an orange and white fur pattern with big eyes, fluffy ears, and a red tongue. The dog is placed on a tan platform on top of a round base similar to the other sets however this one has a more traditional green base to perhaps represent grass.
The LEGO Year of the Dog 40235 was available as a Gift with Purchase from February 16, 2018 to February 28, 2018.
LEGO Year of the Rooster 40234
RRP: Gift With Purchase
Year Released: 2017
Pieces: 157
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Rooster 40234 was a seasonal set released in early 2017 for the Chinese New Year. The Rooster is the 10th animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents observant, hardworking, and courageous.
The set includes 157 pieces with which the staple farm animal can be built. The rooster itself includes the traditional comb on the top of the head, which can be used to cool a real rooster down, and the red wattles that straddle either side of its beak. The wattles are used to gain a hen’s attention. The set follows the similar base building technique with a platform for the animal on a round base covered in flowers and leaves.
LEGO Year of the Rooster 40234 was available as a limited release Gift with Purchase in January 2017 and retired in February of 2017.
LEGO Year of the Monkey 40207
RRP: Limited Release
Year Released: 2016
Pieces: 165
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Monkey 40207 set was the seasonal Chinese New Year set available in 2016. The Monkey is the 9th animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents sharp wits, intelligence, curiosity, and sometimes mischievousness.
The set includes 165 pieces with which to build this Zodiac animal. The monkey features a long tail, large white eyes, and a grin. The monkey is placed in a sitting position on a dark brown platform with its legs facing forward. The base of the set is composed of lime green and adds a contrast of colors with green leaves as well as purple and bright orange flowers.
LEGO Year of the Monkey 40207 was released in February 2016.
LEGO Year of the Sheep 40148
RRP: Gift with Purchase
Year Released: 2015
Pieces: 99
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Sheep 40148 set was the seasonal Chinese New Year set available at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015. The Sheep is the 8th animal in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents calmness, gentleness, and sympathy. Note, this can also be considered The Year of the Goat according to the Zodiac calendar.
This set is the smallest one on this list with only 99 pieces to create the animal figure. The set does not include the newer, round base display we saw on the last sets. Instead, a rectangular shape base is shown with slopes to act as mountainous terrain. The sheep is placed with its hind legs on a grassy area while the front legs are placed on tan slopes. The color palette of this set also can be considered more bland than newer sets. The most prominent colors in this set are the gray studs that act as rocks as well as some green, bamboo resembling pieces and a contrasting, reddish brown base.
LEGO Year of the Sheep 40148 had a limited retail release available in Asian countries in December 2014 and was available as a Gift with Purchase from January 4 2015 to March 2 of 2015.
LEGO Year of the Snake 10250
RRP: $49.99
Year Released: 2013
Pieces: 243
Minifigures: 0
The LEGO Year of the Snake was the first in the Chinese New Year Zodiac list being released in 2013. The snake is 6th in the 12 year zodiac cycle and represents wisdom, intelligence, and enigmatic.
This set in contrast to the one mentioned above is the largest set on this list in terms of piece count, coming in with 243 pieces. This set does not include a display base but instead includes two different builds; a snake and a decorated temple gateway. The snake features fangs, trans-neon green eyes, and a long slivering body. The snake is made of red, white, tan, and black pieces. The temple gateway features a round printed 8×8 tile with two snakes on either side and the year of the set. The temple gateway is made of black, red, and pearl gold pieces placed on a dark gray plate.
LEGO Year of the Snake 10250 was released only in Carrefour, China, and was available from Jan 1st, 2013 until December 31st, 2013.
Final Thoughts
The Chinese New Year Zodiac runs in a 12 year cycle so more sets are surely to follow. It is a possibility The LEGO Group could get into the more nuanced aspect of the zodiac animals and create sets based on the specific Zodiac for that year, instead of the generalization. Most of the newer sets are available for purchase as of the time of this writing however the older sets are much more difficult to find and used conditions may be the most accessible ones.
If you enjoyed checking out this list, then you may also love this article we wrote which walks through Every LEGO Star Wars Helmet Set Ever Released – check it out here!
