Will the Year of the Dragon bring about a baby boom?

The traditional desire for a 'superior' dragon baby may not be enough to sway young couples

- Helen Davidson, Amy Hawkins and Chi Hui Lin

Recently in Taiwan, a well-known obstetrician-gynaecologist posted a public service announcement on Facebook. Dr Chih Chun Chen, a director of the Eugene Postpartum Nursing Care Center, told couples to put 8 May in their calendar if they wanted to give birth to a dragon baby. "Sowing should be completed by 15 May of this year at the latest," Chen said. "You have to work hard during the New Year!"

Last weekend marked the start of the Year of the Dragon. The dragon is the only mythical creature of the 12 in the zodiac calendar, and is seen as the most auspicious, with those born under its sign destined for success.

This year there is an extra layer of significance, as many countries in Asia are experiencing declining birthrates, leading to an ageing population and predictions of dire economic consequences. Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said in his lunar new year message: "Now is as good a time as any for young couples to add a little dragon' to your family."

China, home to almost a fifth of the world's people, recently entered a population decline, and government efforts to boost the birthrate with financial incentives and other policies have had little impact.

Hank, a dragon baby born in 2000 in a small town in Shaanxi province, north-central China, recalled feeling a certain pressure growing up. "I am the only dragon boy. So in my father's family, they have really high expectations from me," he said from the UK, where he is now a university student.