With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, a new exhibition themed on Chinese zodiac Year of the Horse has kicked off in Beijing.
The Year of the Horse will begin on Feb. 17, 2026, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, which operates on a 12-year, repeating cycle where each year is represented by a zodiac animal. The 12 zodiac animals in fixed order are the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig, with 2026 a Year of the Horse.
Titled "Galloping Forward", the event at the National Museum of China aims to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year's Day, in grand style.
Led by the National Museum and supported by six major institutions across the country, the exhibition has about 120 precious artifacts on display.
Visitors can trace the horse's journey through time. It evolved from a key figure of war and imperial power to a vital carrier of trade along the Silk Road. From ancient bronzeware and pottery figures to delicate paintings, the horse stands as a symbol of vitality in Chinese art.
One of the must-see pieces is a rare tri-colored glazed ceramic horse in black glaze from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD).
"This is a classic example of a Tang Dynasty horse sculpture. Unlike the simpler style of the Han Dynasty, this one is muscular and strong, showing the power of the Tang era. What makes it truly special is that it's one of only two black-glazed tri-colored glazed ceramic horses unearthed in China," said Xu Wenjun, exhibition curator.
From the Tang Dynasty until today, horses like this have never stopped inspiring artists. The National Museum has always excelled in developing creative cultural productions.
"We want our creative products to express Chinese culture. This 'black horse' is perfect because it's rare and has a great meaning. We've put these good wishes into everything, from blind boxes to this plush charm. It has an interactive design. If you pat its bottom, it goes like... (horse sound effect)," said Liao Fei, head of National Museum of China (Beijing) Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd.
Open since January 30, the exhibition will receive visitors over the next three months.
National Museum of China opens horse-themed exhibition in run-up to Chinese New Year
An American content creator has given his take on a surprising new viral trend which has taken social media by storm, as global internet users joke about entering a "very Chinese phase" of their lives.
The unexpected phenomenon which is sweeping across the online world shines a new spotlight on Chinese culture and lifestyle, and sees users declare they are "becoming Chinese" alongside the phrase "you've met me at a very Chinese time of my life," accompanied by videos of them adopting Chinese habits on various social media platforms.
U.S. influencer Paul Mike Ashton, known online as 'BaoBaoXiong', gained fame for coining the phrase which led to the "city or not city" meme back in 2024.
As for this latest online sensation, Ashton believes it's not just another amusing meme, but also a casual way to experience Chinese culture through everyday details, rather than abstract stereotypes.
He said the current wave is giving foreign audiences a fresh, tangible perspective on China, which makes cultural exchange more engaging and relatable.
"As a content creator, I absolutely think that this is going to be changing the way people perceive China in general. Oftentimes when we need simplified stories, we need people to see things as a whole unit as opposed to their little parts. I would say even just the practice of doing these things is giving you a chance to engage with the culture and engage with specifics instead of just kind of this big overall idea and getting new experience like 'OK, this particular form of life actually does really feel very nice and very comfortable'. I think it also gives a chance for Chinese creators to take more of a spotlight and actually talk a little bit more about their culture in ways that people will listen because there's a curiosity about this," he said.
Ashton also believes there are other deeper reasons for why this "becoming Chinese" trend has taken off, pointing to the current challenges and level of discontent many people feel in the U.S., which means many are looking for some form of escapism.
"I think I've heard somebody mention before kind of this idea that the U.S., politically and economically, is in a very sensitive time. There's a lot going on and there's a lot of unrest and a lot of unhappiness and a lot of unsatisfaction. So, I think that it's been proposed this idea that people are kind of looking for stuff outside of these sorts of traditional cultural superpowers to kind of find a sense of either excitement or safety or comfort," he said.
Ashton also pointed to how concerns over the future of the popular TikTok app early last year saw many online users flocking over to the Chinese mobile app RedNote as being another notable factor driving the emergence of these online trends.
He said this renewed global interest in Chinese culture has created fresh engagement channels on other international platforms.
"This is almost a year now since the initial TikTok refugee exodus last year in which a lot of people suddenly took interest in Chinese culture in a new way than before. So, I think there's been since then some opportunities to engage with and interact with Chinese culture in TikTok, in international social media, besides just China on its own that definitely I think has influenced this becoming a bigger trend," he said.
US influencer shares thoughts on 'Becoming Chinese' trend
