Culture-loaded word translation is a core issue in interdisciplinary terminology research. Beyond linguistic transfer, it requires reconstruction of cultural connotations. Rooted in national ethos, Chinese culture-loaded terms carry both symbolic and communicative values and risk semantic loss and cultural mismatch in overseas dissemination. This article takes the Chinese “Loong” as a case, reviewing its translation evolution since the 16th century and comparing dragon, loong and Chinese dragon across historical contexts. Drawing on linguistics, cultural studies, translation studies, history and intercultural communication, it explores driving factors, Sino-Western metaphor gaps, discourse power shifts, domestication-foreignization tensions and debates on loong. It concludes that such translations reflect cultural discourse contests rather than mere technical decisions. Translators should avoid binary extremes, balance cultural fidelity and readability, adopt scenario-based strategies and promote terminology standardization for effective Chinese cultural communication.