Here's a closeup of the mythical Qilin posted just before this pic. He's sitting in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity in the Summer Palace Gardens, just north west of Beijing.
Historical references to the qilin date back to the 5th century BC. There have been many variations over the centuries. Here's one typical description, again according to wikipedia: "Qilin generally have Chinese dragon-like features. Most notably their heads, eyes with thick eyelashes, manes that always flow upward and beards. The body is fully or partially scaled and often shaped like an ox, deer, or horse. Always shown with cloven hooves. In modern times, the depictions of qilin have often fused with the Western concept of unicorns. ..... Some stories state that qilin are sacred pets (or familiars) of the deities. Therefore, in the hierarchy of dances performed by the Chinese (lion dance, dragon dance, etc.), they ranks highly; third only to the dragon and phoenix who are the highest."
