Dragon occupies a very important postion in Chinese mythology. It shows up in arts, literature, poetry, architecture, songs, and many aspects of the Chinese conscience. Chinese literature and myths refer to many dragons besides the famous "long". The linguist Michael Carr analyzed over 100 ancient dragon names attested in Chinese classic texts.

• Tianlong (Chinese: 天龍; pinyin: tiānlóng; Wade-Giles: t'ien-lung; literally "heavenly dragon"), celestial dragon that guards heavenly palaces and pulls divine chariots; also a name for Draco (constellation)
• Shenlong (Chinese: 神龍; pinyin: shénlóng; Wade-Giles: shen-lung; literally "god dragon"), thunder god that controls the weather, appearance of a human head, dragon's body, and drum-like stomach
• Fucanglong (Chinese: 伏藏龍; pinyin: fúcánglóng; Wade-Giles: fu-tsang-lung; literally "hidden treasure dragon"), underworld guardian of precious metals and jewels, associated with volcanoes
• Dilong (Chinese: 地龍; pinyin: dìlóng; Wade-Giles: ti-lung; literally "earth dragon"), controller of rivers and seas; also a name for earthworm
• Yinglong (Chinese: 應龍; pinyin: yìnglóng; Wade-Giles: ying-lung; literally "responding dragon"), winged dragon associated with rains and floods, used by Huangdi to kill Chi You
• Jiaolong (Chinese: 蛟龍; pinyin: jiāolóng; Wade-Giles: chiao-lung; literally "crocodile dragon"), hornless or scaled dragon, leader of all aquatic animals
• Panlong (Chinese: 蟠龍; pinyin: pánlóng; Wade-Giles: p'an-lung; literally "coiled dragon"), lake dragon that has not ascended to heaven
• Huanglong (Chinese: 黃龍; pinyin: huánglóng; Wade-Giles: huang-lung; literally "yellow dragon"), hornless dragon symbolizing the emperor
• Feilong (Chinese: 飛龍; pinyin: fēilóng; Wade-Giles: fei-lung; literally "flying dragon"), winged dragon that rides on clouds and mist; also a name for pterosaur (compare Feilong kick and Fei Long character)
• Qinglong (Chinese: 青龍; pinyin: qīnglóng; Wade-Giles: ch'ing-lung; literally "Azure Dragon"), the animal associated with the East in the Chinese Four Symbols, mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations
• Qiulong (Chinese: 虯龍; pinyin: qíulóng; Wade-Giles: ch'iu-lung; literally "curling dragon"), contradictorily defined as both "horned dragon" and "hornless dragon"
• Chilong (Chinese: 螭龍; pinyin: chīlóng; Wade-Giles: ch'ih-lung; literally "demon dragon"), a hornless dragon or mountain demon

• Longwang (Chinese: 龍王; pinyin: lóngwáng; Wade-Giles: lung-wang; literally "Dragon Kings") divine rulers of the Four Seas
• Longma (Chinese: 龍馬; pinyin: lóngmǎ; Wade-Giles: lung-ma; literally "dragon horse"), emerged from the Luo River and revealed Bagua (concept) to Fu Xi

• Hong (Chinese: 虹; pinyin: hóng; Wade-Giles: hung; literally "rainbow"), a two-headed dragon or rainbow serpent
• Shen (Chinese: 蜃; pinyin: shèn; Wade-Giles: shen; literally "giant clam"), a shapeshifting dragon or sea monster believed to create mirages
• Bashe (Chinese: 巴蛇; pinyin: bāshé; Wade-Giles: pa-she; literally "ba snake") was a giant python-like dragon that ate elephants
• Teng (simplified Chinese: 螣; traditional Chinese: 螣; pinyin: téng; Wade-Giles: t'eng) or Tengshe (simplified Chinese: 腾蛇; traditional Chinese: 騰蛇; pinyin: téngshé; Wade-Giles: t'eng-she; lit. "soaring snake") is a flying dragon without legs

Chinese scholars have classified dragons in diverse systems. For instance, Emperor Huizong of Song canonized five colored dragons as "kings".

• The Azure Dragon [Qinglong 青龍] spirits, most compassionate kings.
• The Vermillion Dragon [Zhulong 朱龍] spirits, kings that bestow blessings on lakes.
• The Yellow Dragon [Huanglong 黃龍] spirits, kings that favorably hear all petitions.
• The White Dragon [Bailong 白龍] spirits, virtuous and pure kings.
• The Black Dragon [Xuanlong 玄龍] spirits, kings dwelling in the depths of the mystic waters.

With the addition of the Yellow Dragon of the Center to Azure Dragon of the East, these Vermillion, White, and Black Dragons coordinate with the Four Symbols, including the Vermilion Bird of the South, White Tiger of the West, and Black Tortoise of the North.