Chinese Culture - Page 2

As the New Year bell rings, the lunar Year of the Horse arrives once again. In Chinese culture, the horse is not only one of the twelve zodiac animals, but also a symbol of strength, speed, and success. In this special year, let us turn our eyes to the museum and meet a true “superstar” from the glorious Tang Dynasty — the Tang Sancai horse figurine.

In Chinese culture, horses are not just tools for travel or farm animals. They are heroes, companions in battle, and even symbols with a myth-like status. This year is the Year of the Horse, so let’s travel through time and meet two “super horses” that are very famous in Chinese history. Their stories reflect the Chinese love of heroism and romance.

Qingming Festival is coming again in China. Many of you have probably heard of this traditional Chinese festival. So, what is Qingming like? Ancient Chinese poets wrote many poems about it. Let’s enjoy a few of them and explore their meaning and emotion.

Did you know that in China, each year has its own special "guardian animal（动物守护神 dòng wù shǒu hù shén)"? We just said goodbye to the clever snake, and now we’ve welcomed the energetic Year of the Horse (马年, mǎ nián). Picture time like a huge, never-ending relay race. This year, the one who took over the baton is the horse—a symbol of freedom, speed, and passion.

Lantern Festival (元宵节 yuán xiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival or the Lantern Festival, carries people’s wishes for completeness, brightness, and a good new year. In 2026, Lantern Festival will be on March 3. On this day, China is filled with warm lights, sweet treats, and a happy festival spirit.