Chinese historians, philosophers and archaeologists participated in a seminar called "Dragon Culture and its Scientific Development" in Puyang city, Henan Province on October 12 to discuss the dragon's significance for China and the Chinese. They said that dragon is not a symbol of feudal imperial power, but that Chinese all over the world are descendants of the dragon.

The dragon, called loong in pinyin, is regarded as symbol of luck, power, justice, and happiness. It looks like a combination of many animals, such as a snake, alligator, fish, reptile, horse and deer. Together with the elements of thunder, lightning, rainbows and tornadoes, the dragon was created by the Chinese as a glorified ideal of natural power in ancient times.

Pang Jin, director of the Chinese Dragon-Phoenix Culture Research Center, explained that through at least 8.000 years of creation, and development, dragon culture had at least six historical functions: auspicious supernatural being which governs rainfall; a divine animal that can reach heaven; a metaphor of the elite; a symbol of imperial power; a sign of good luck and the national emblem.