The National Museum of China has unveiled a horse-themed exhibition in Beijing as the country gears up for the upcoming Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse.

Titled “Galloping Forward”, the exhibition celebrates the cultural symbolism of the horse in Chinese civilisation and the festive spirit of the Spring Festival. Jointly organised by the National Museum and six major institutions nationwide, the show features around 120 carefully selected artefacts.

Through bronzeware, pottery figures and paintings, visitors are guided through the horse’s evolving role in Chinese history – from a symbol of military strength and imperial power to a key carrier of trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Among the highlights is a rare Tang Dynasty tri-coloured glazed ceramic horse in black glaze, described by curator Xu Wenjun as “truly special [as]… it’s one of only two black-glazed… ceramic horses unearthed in China.”

The exhibition also extends into creative cultural products inspired by the artefacts, reflecting the museum’s ongoing efforts to bring traditional culture into contemporary life. Open since 30 January, the exhibition will run for three months.

Source: China Central Television