What does the dragon symbolize in Chinese culture?

In Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes excellence, boldness, perseverance, divinity, power, valiancy, heroism and nobility. The dragon continues to overcome until he finds success. He is decisive, intelligent, energetic, optimistic and ambitious.

The Chinese feel that they are descendants of the dragon. Exactly where and when the Chinese adopted this symbol is something historians do not know, but it seems that the dragon stems from nine different animals. This includes a combination of deer, the devil, a cockle, an eagle, an ox, a camel, a snake, a carp and a tiger. The Chinese believe that the dragons have immense power and the ability to take humans to another realm after they die.