Co-curated by Prince Kung’s Palace Museum and the Château de Chantilly in France, “Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture”, jointly organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and China Tourism Group, opened yesterday at Prince Kung’s Palace Museum in Beijing. As one of the highlights of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, the exhibition is centred on a dialogue between Chinese and French equine cultures, showcasing more than 200 precious equine-related cultural artefacts and works of art to highlight the important role of horses in the cultural heritage of both countries while fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning through their shared equine heritage. Running from 25 August to 29 November at Prince Kung’s Palace Museum, the exhibition will travel on to Tai Kwun in Central, Hong Kong from late December until the end of January 2027, providing local residents and visitors with an opportunity to appreciate these historical equine treasures while promoting tourism and the development of equestrian sports in Hong Kong.
An opening ceremony for “Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” was held at Jiale Hall, Prince Kung’s Palace Museum. Officiating guests included Feng Nai'en, Director of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum; Anne Miller, General Manager of the Château de Chantilly, France; Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Jian Yi, Vice General Manager of China Tourism Group.
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Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club,delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture”.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club is honoured to support the exhibition and hopes it will enable more people to experience the unique appeal of cultural exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western equine cultures. He added that the Club will continue to align its efforts with the development priorities set out in the National 15th Five-Year-Plan and Hong Kong’s first Five-Year-Plan, driving Hong Kong’s deeper integration into overall national development, deepening the city’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and enhancing the reach and influence of Chinese culture.
For centuries, horses have been pivotal partners in the advancement of human and social development, serving not only as valued companions in exploration and development, but also crucial linkages connecting Eurasia and bridging Eastern and Western cultures. Marking the Year of the Horse, the exhibition centres on a dialogue between Chinese and French equine cultures in the 19th century. It features more than 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland, tracing the evolution of equine culture from ancient Chinese mounted archery traditions and the Manchu riding and archery heritage of the Qing dynasty to European equestrian culture and modern horse racing.
The exhibition comprises three thematic sections, namely “Tracing the Origins”, “Riding the Wind” and “Unbridled Imagination”. Visitors are invited to explore the longstanding relationship between humans and horses, while discovering how the horse has facilitated cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and France, and how it has served as an important medium for promoting cultural exchange between East and West. Blending performing arts, visual arts and digital technology, the exhibition offers visitors an immersive experience, enabling them to appreciate the richness and enduring appeal of equine culture.
As a co-organiser of the exhibition, the Club is providing the venue for the Hong Kong edition of the exhibition and contributing one of its featured exhibits. At the Beijing exhibition opening ceremony, the Club offered commemorative horseshoes to guests and visitors in attendance, fostering a deeper appreciation and connection with Hong Kong’s racing heritage and equine culture.
The Club’s Year of the Horse campaign is a year-long celebration of the close bond between horses and humans and the contribution racing makes to Hong Kong. It also promotes tourism as well as equine and sports development. Racing is not only the city’s favourite pastime, but also a symbol of its “can-do” spirit and stability under One Country, Two Systems. Through the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, the sport also brings pride to the community and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse.
Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club,delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture”.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
“Riding into Reflection: A Sino-French Exhibition on Equine Culture” features more than 200 cultural artefacts, including over 60 treasured artefacts from the renowned collections of the Château de Chantilly, alongside exhibits from a number of cultural institutions and museums in the Chinese Mainland.
