China Celebrates Year of the Snake

2025 heralds the Year of the Snake in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar. In December 2024, the People’s Bank of China announced the issue of a commemorative 20 yuan banknote for the 2025 Chinese Zodiac New Year.

The Chinese zodiac cycle accommodates 12 animals, each of which is said to reflect specific human attributes. This is the second note in the zodiac series, and follows the award-winning Year of Loong (dragon) note issued in January 2024. The Bank will be issuing one commemorative note per year to mark each animal in the cycle.

The Year of the Snake banknote is printed on polymer substrate and manufactured by the Guangzhou Banknote Printing Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

Guangzhou Banknote Printing was established in November 2013, and is the most advanced and ‘intelligent’ among the eight banknote printing enterprises under CBPM, boasting cutting-edge equipment, lean management, and intelligent capabilities in the R&D and production of both paper and polymer banknotes.