Show Chinese Lunar Dates in Apple Calendar and Google Calendar
To show Chinese lunar dates in Apple Calendar or Google Calendar, look for Alternate Calendars and choose Chinese. This provides a Chinese-calendar date reference within your everyday calendar. It is separate from adding public holidays or setting up lunar birthday reminders.
The setting is in a different place depending on the app. On an iPhone, make sure you are following the instructions for Apple Calendar or Google Calendar, rather than switching between the two.
Apple Calendar on iPhone
Start in the iPhone’s Settings app, not inside Calendar:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps → Calendar.
- Tap Alternate Calendars → Chinese.
Return to Apple Calendar to use the date display. Apple describes this option as showing the Chinese calendar alongside Gregorian dates, so you can consult both rather than replacing the Gregorian calendar.
Google Calendar on the web
On a computer, open Google Calendar in your browser:
- Click the Settings icon at the top right, then choose Settings.
- Open View options.
- Find the Alternate calendars drop-down and choose Chinese.
To remove the alternate-calendar display, return to the same drop-down and select None.
This setting is under View options; you do not need to add a holiday subscription just to display Chinese lunar dates.
Google Calendar on Android
Use the Google Calendar app on your Android phone or tablet:
- Tap Menu at the top left, then Settings.
- Tap General → Alternate calendars.
- Choose Chinese.
To remove it, return to Alternate calendars and choose No alternate calendar.
These instructions are for Google Calendar, rather than another calendar app supplied with your phone.
Google Calendar on iPhone or iPad
Open the Google Calendar app, then:
- Tap Menu at the top left, then Settings.
- Tap General → Alternate calendars.
- Choose Chinese.
To remove it, return to Alternate calendars and choose No alternate calendar.
Make this change inside Google Calendar. The iPhone path Settings → Apps → Calendar described above is for Apple Calendar.
Lunar dates, holidays and birthday reminders are different tasks
For looking up a lunar date, use the alternate-calendar display. To check a particular date separately, enter it in the Chinese calendar converter.
For public holidays, use a holiday calendar or subscription appropriate to the place you need. Selecting Chinese under Alternate Calendars is not the same as subscribing to a holiday feed. The Hong Kong holiday calendar provides a separate feed for Hong Kong holidays.
For lunar birthday reminders, displaying lunar dates does not create reminders by itself. Our tool accepts an ordinary Gregorian birth date, calculates anniversaries for a selected range of years, and exports exact dates as separate all-day events—not an annual recurrence. See the lunar birthday guide for details.