Discover Dragons in Los Angeles

The only mythical animal in the Asian Zodiac, the Dragon has been a symbol of strength, prosperity and good luck for thousands of years. According to the lunar calendar, the Year of the Wood Dragon began on Feb. 10, 2024 and ends on Jan. 28, 2025. From artwork to real-life, read on for the best places in Los Angeles to see dragons.

CHINATOWN GATEWAY MONUMENT
Dedicated in June 2001, the Chinatown Gateway Monument was designed by architect Rupert Mok, who created a sculpture with two golden dragons battling over a pearl - a common image in Chinese art. The gateway spans Broadway at Cesar Chavez Avenue on the southern edge of Chinatown. Aluminum mesh evokes the dragons flying through clouds. The structure is supported by eight red-colored pillars that are decorated with "Wisdom" and "Harmony" spelled out in English and Chinese.

GOLDEN DRAGON PARADE
The highlight of Chinatown's Lunar New Year festivities, the 125th Annual Golden Dragon Parade took place on February 17.

Each year, tens of thousands of spectators line the route to view the parade, which features floats, marching bands, entertainers, local business leaders and cultural groups.

BRUCE LEE STATUE
Nicknamed "Little Dragon," martial arts legend Bruce Lee is honored with a seven-foot bronze statue in Chinatown's Central Plaza. The first of its kind in the U.S, the statue was unveiled in June 2013 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Lee's untimely death and Chinatown's 75th anniversary. Lee's former studio is located a short walk from the statue at 628 W. College St.

"DRAGON CHASING PEARL"
Nearby is the Dragon Chasing Pearl mural originally painted in 1941 by Tyrus Wong. The legendary artist is renowned for his work in film, particularly as the lead artist on the classic Walt Disney film Bambi.

BEST WESTERN PLUS DRAGON GATE INN
Stay and play at the Best Western Plus Dragon Gate Inn, conveniently located on Hill Street in the heart of Chinatown. In addition to the landmarks mentioned above, the hotel is a short walk from Philippe The Original, Olvera Street, Union Station and more.

JANM STORE
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is internationally recognized for its commitment to exploring America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by presenting and sharing the experience of Japanese Americans with exhibitions, public programs and resource center.

The award-winning JANM Store is featuring numerous Year of the Dragon items, from Dragon "Chompsticks" to Brass Dragon Earrings to a Plush Dragon Sculpture.

JAPANGELES
Founded in 2009 by native Angeleno Roy Kuroyanagi, Japangeles expanded from its Little Tokyo kiosk to a storefront at Japanese Village Plaza in August 2017. Designed and printed in LA, the Japangeles streetwear line remixes traditional Japanese iconography like Mt. Fuji, geishas, bonsai, and maneki-neko ("waving cat") with a modern SoCal aesthetic. There's no online store, so a trip to the Little Tokyo shop is the only way to buy Japangeles gear like the new Year of the Dragon t-shirts. Follow @japangeles for the latest drops.

The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon has a deadly bite, can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh between 150-200 pounds. The public can view these endangered apex predators at the Los Angeles Zoo, which has provided long-term support to the Komodo Survival Program, including raising young Komodo dragons and purchasing 12 camera traps that have successfully monitored Komodo dragons on islands in Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Opened in September 2021, the spectacular Academy Museum of Motion Pictures houses more than 13 million objects in a 300,000 square-foot campus designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano.

The museum's core exhibition, Stories of Cinema spans three levels and numerous galleries. One of the highlights is an exhibit devoted to Bruce Lee, which includes a costume and poster from Enter the Dragon; and a script with Lee's drawing of a dragon on the cover.

Created by Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei, Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads (2011) features 12 monumental bronze animal heads inspired by sculptures that once adorned the Haiyantang water clock fountain in Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace), located just outside Beijing. The original sculptures, designed by European Jesuits and cast circa 1750, were looted by English and French troops who took part in the destruction of Yuanmingyuan in 1860, during the Second Opium War.

Ai Weiwei’s work is currently on view on the Zev Yaroslavsky Plaza at LACMA.

Acclaimed floral artist Maurice Harris (Bloom & Plume) has created a beautiful Flower Dragon that's on view at Ovation Hollywood through February. Visitors are invited to take pics with the festive red dragon, which is breathing "fire" with the iconic Hollywood Sign in the background.

Taking place on Saturday, March 2 at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey, the annual Dragon Boat Festival features exciting dragon boat races, live music, food trucks and more. Admission is free!

Built in 1965, La Laguna de San Gabriel - affectionately known as Monster Park - features 14 concrete play sculptures created by master artist Benjamin Dominguez. The menagerie includes a Sea Serpent, Ozzie the Octopus, Minnie the Whale, Sammy the Snail and a family of dolphins named Flipper, Skippy and Peanut. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

In April 2023, Pacific Park debuted a new, $1.5 million Sea Dragon ride that replaced the classic swinging ship that opened in 1996. Named for the Sea Serpent wooden coaster from the original Pacific Ocean Park, the Sea Dragon swings in a 180-degree arc with thrilling launches, 40-foot drops and a misting system that makes passengers feel like they're "caught in the turbulent seas."