With just two months to go before the Year of the Horse comes in February 2026, the Palace Museum has rolled out a series of festive gift products, blending historical heritage with contemporary creativity. At the cultural and creative exhibition hall inside the Meridian Gate, or Wumen, the largest gate of the over 600-year-old former Forbidden City, more than 20 Spring Festival-themed products are on display. Among them, gift boxes and the Palace Museum Calendar series are classic choices.
Featuring the most cherished cultural relics collections of the Palace Museum, the Spring Festival prints inside one of the gift box series are inspired by a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) painting, depicting two white horses by a tree in soft colors and lively detail, offering a visual delight steeped in history.
Another of the gift boxes draws on the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imperial archives known as the Annual Auspicious Gift Lists. Cultural elements such as Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut decorations are carefully annotated, turning the gift set into a readable "cultural handbook" rather than a simple holiday product.
Beyond these classics, Chinese zodiac-themed commemorative stamps are another highlight, condensing treasured Palace Museum collections into miniature works of art. The principal artwork of the stamps draws from paintings of Giuseppe Castiglione, a celebrated Qing-Dynasty artist and missionary who took the name Lang Shining in China, a pioneer to fuse Chinese and European traditional painting styles.
"The designs draw inspiration from Giuseppe Castiglione's celebrated painting Ten Steeds, as well as horse-themed porcelain and ornaments from the museum's collection. We hope to convey auspicious meanings related to the horse, such as gallop at the head, and dragon-horse spirit symbolizing vitality and determination and share these good wishes with all," said Yang Shuhan from Beijing Palace Museum Cultural Development Cooperation.
One particularly distinctive item in this year's lineup is a scarf developed jointly with organizations of people with disabilities. Bearing the concept of "cultural creativity with social responsibility," part of the proceeds from this product will be returned to support people with disabilities.
Other popular items include the "Illuminated Forbidden City" tri-fold glowing fridge magnet, which creatively revives Qing Dynasty's imperial steed Wan Ji Xiang, as well as a plush horse bag inspired by the steed Sheng Ji Cong, both depicted in classical palace paintings, bringing history and culture seamlessly into everyday life.
Palace Museum rolls out festive gifts for 2026 Spring Festival
