CGTN’s "All Things Horses" challenge unleashes global stampede of artistic talent

China Global Television Network's "All Things Horses" challenge to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Horse is setting the stage for a worldwide artistic celebration, with submissions that blend ancient legends, cross-cultural calligraphy, and digital innovation demonstrating humanity's enduring fascination with the animal.

Master painter Shan Ze, also known as Li Yifan, placed a modern twist on ancient myth in a spellbinding feat of artistic skill: drawing a horse with a single, unbroken line.

Inspired by the classic Chinese text "Shan Hai Jing" (Classic of Mountains and Seas), Shan Ze recreated Jiliang, a legendary celestial horse associated with good fortune. In a mesmerizing performance, his hand never left the page, animating the mythical steed with one elegant stroke.

From the Middle East, the challenge witnessed a breathtaking fusion of cultures as Syrian artist Iyad Nasser merged the flowing aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy with the noble silhouette of a horse.

Each curve and flourish of the script became a celebration of vitality and movement. Through his calligraphic horse, Nasser extended heartfelt wishes for good health, prosperity, and the "Long (Dragon) and Horse Spirit" (vigorous and progressive spirit). His artwork galloped beyond geographic and artistic borders, reminding the world of the universal language of beauty and hope.

Technology and tradition collided when French artist Renaud C. Haslan employed artificial intelligence in his creative process. By blending classic Chinese motifs with cutting-edge AI, Haslan animated the zodiac horse in dynamic motion, turning back in a powerful glance, then lifting its head as if calling to the sky.

From ink and calligraphy to AI-generated marvels, the horse continues to unite diverse creators and spectators on a shared journey into the Chinese New Year.

As the "All Things Horses" challenge unfolds, so too does a message that transcends boundaries: wherever you are in the world, the horse's enduring spirit invites everyone to create, connect, and celebrate.

CGTN’s "All Things Horses" challenge unleashes global stampede of artistic talent

China has increased transportation capacity in its air, highway and railway systems to handle a busier 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which is set to begin on Monday and expected to see 9.5 billion cross-regional passenger trips.

Each year during the period, millions of people working, studying, or living away from their hometowns return for the Spring Festival, China's most important traditional holiday, forming the world's largest annual human migration.

The railway network in China has geared up to meet the growing travel demand. It is capable of scheduling over 14,000 passenger trains per day during the peak period of the travel rush, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent in transportation capacity.

"By analyzing data flows, we are now capable of tracking passengers' demands and dynamically managing transportation capacity in areas such as ticket purchasing, waitlist management, and transportation capacity adjustments so that the transportation resources will be used more effectively to meet passengers' travel needs," said Zhang Zhiqiang, head of the operation support department at the China Railway 12306 Technology Center.

During the travel rush, China's civil aviation sector is expected to schedule an average of 19,400 flights per day, increasing by 5 percent year on year.

Helping meet capacity, a new terminal was put into test operation at Sanya Phoenix International Airport on Sunday to facilitate smooth travel in the island province of Hainan, which is a popular tourism destination for people from home and abroad during the Spring Festival holiday.

The country is also expected to handle record-high daily self-driving trips and highway traffic volume during the travel rush period.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on February 17 this year. The official holiday lasts nine days, with the travel rush running through March 13.

China increases transportation capacity to handle busier Spring Festival travel rush