Xinhua Headlines: In the saddle gearing up for Year of the Horse

* In China, the horse traditionally stands for loyalty, energy and a pioneering spirit, and is considered one of the zodiac's most popular animals.

* As the Year of the Horse spurs into action, ancient cultural symbolism will also be cantering into renewed vitality, not just in traditions, but on dining tables, via clothing designs and as museum centerpieces.

* While the Chinese word for "road" historically relates to a path for horses, the new type of "horsepower" available today is also characterized by the country's rapid shift toward electric mobility.

by Xinhua writer Zhou Yan

BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- It turns out that Emmanuel Macron, Elon Musk and Draco Malfoy share at least one thing in common. Chinese translations of their surnames saddle them all with the same character, namely "ma," which means horse.

In the run-up to celebrations welcoming the Year of the Horse, a mascot has gone viral in China showing Malfoy from Harry Potter's wizarding world riding on horseback. While Malfoy is pronounced as "Ma Er Fu" in Chinese -- indicating that horses bring good luck, the wizard on horseback also means that this good fortune arrives immediately, as the original Chinese "ma shang" translates figuratively as "at once."

The Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, coming after the Year of the Snake. The Chinese lunar calendar, based on lunar cycles, contains 12 zodiac animals, with the horse seventh in the list. In China, the horse traditionally stands for loyalty, energy and a pioneering spirit, and is considered one of the zodiac's most popular animals.

The Chinese language is rich in expressions involving horses. For example, "yi ma dang xian" means to lead the way or set the pace, "ma dao cheng gong" refers to achieving immediate success and "lao ma shi tu" indicates that an old hand knows the ropes. Meanwhile, a disobedient horse that menaces the group is referred to as "hai qun zhi ma," essentially a black sheep, while "niu ma" is frequently used to mean either workhorses or wage slaves.

HERE COMES THE FOAL

Sun, a Beijing-based editor, is expecting her first child around May 6. Her top wish for the Year of the Horse is a smooth delivery and a healthy baby. "I hope the baby will be like a foal: healthy, courageous and full of vitality."

Sun was born in 1990, also a Year of the Horse. Her zodiac animal is reflected in her first name, "Ji," which means a fine steed. "It stands for my parents' hope that I will excel and aim high," she explained. "When facing difficulties, I often tell myself to keep going, stay resilient and pursue my dreams."

The two most recent Horse Years, 2014 and 2002, both saw booms in births, with 16.87 million and 16.47 million babies born, respectively. Many people also regard the horse as a more auspicious zodiac sign than the goat, which comes next in the cycle. "During recent hospital visits, I've noticed many couples coming for their first prenatal checkups, which suggests they are expecting a baby this year," Sun said.

Around her, the trend seems pronounced: at least 10 of her colleagues and friends are also expecting babies in the coming months.

Liu Lin, 39, from Liaocheng in eastern China's Shandong Province, is expecting her third child. "This is not just a family choice -- it brings hope and security, backed by new government policies that ease our financial pressure," said Liu.

Last year, China launched a nationwide childcare subsidy program as part of broader efforts to support families and encourage childbirth. This program offers families 3,600 yuan (about 518.75 U.S. dollars) per year for each child under the age of three, and the policy is expected to benefit more than 20 million families annually.

"This is wonderful news as we look forward to welcoming this little foal into our family, bringing joy and vitality," Liu said.

CULTURE AT A CANTER

In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes loyalty, endurance and progress. As the Year of the Horse spurs into action, ancient cultural symbolism will also be cantering into renewed vitality, not just in traditions, but on dining tables, via clothing designs and as museum centerpieces. From a vital partner in civilization's progress to a beloved muse in art, the horse has long been embedded in the Chinese psyche.

At a workshop in Wudi County, Shandong Province, intangible cultural heritage inheritor Liu Lanxiang turns dough into colorful art. Using juices gained from vegetables and fruits as natural dyes, she employs ancient techniques to shape dough into lively horses through pinching, cutting and molding.

"We've designed a series for the Year of the Horse, including 'treasure horse,' 'immediate wealth' (a pun that literally translates into wealth on horseback in Chinese) and 'rocking horse,'" said Liu. These festive steamed buns have proven highly popular, blending traditional food with Chinese New Year greetings.

In Caoxian County, also in Shandong, a major production base for hanfu -- traditional Chinese clothing, the horse theme is being woven into fabric. Notably, New Year celebration outfits and hanfu featuring horse motifs are in high demand.

"We've created a new series incorporating animated patterns of horses and ancient coins, conveying the blessing of 'immediate prosperity,'" said Yao Chixing, a hanfu brand manager.

Cultural institutions are also saddling up for the occasion. The Confucius Museum in Shandong is displaying one of its most precious treasures: an exquisite yellow jade horse from the Warring States period (475 BC-221 BC). This ancient artifact has not only become a hit among visitors, but also inspired the museum to develop a series of creative products ranging from plush toys and fridge magnets to ice cream, thus enabling visitors to take a piece of history home.

WHERE STEPPE MEETS STALL

Four-year-old Maya Ivanou moved to China with her parents in 2023. The family settled in Dongting Town, east China's Anhui Province, home to the Yangtze River Delta International Equestrian Center. Maya's mother, Aleksandra Timofeeva, better known as Sasha, is an equestrian from Russia and her father, Vasil Ivanou, a coach from Belarus.

"A friend recommended a job for us here at the club. Since I lived in China before and felt great about it, our whole family decided to come," Sasha said.

An experienced rider who once competed in Europe, Sasha trains most days and has also learned to cook Chinese dishes. "Braised pork with radish, for example," she said. Her daughter attends a local kindergarten and can already speak some Chinese.

Sasha said equestrian sports are growing fast in China. "Even rural areas have modern equestrian facilities, and more people come here for training every year." Her wish for the Year of the Horse is simple: to take part in more equestrian competitions and at the same time enjoy wonderful family moments.

In neighboring Jiangxi Province, 16-year-old Wu Tianhao starts each day tending to the wounds of injured horses. Born into a farming family, he is majoring in equestrian sport and management at the Vocational Education Center in Yihuang County. His coursework spans horse training, reining, show jumping and event operations.

"I want to become a professional rider and help support my family," Wu said. His father passed away from cancer two years ago and his mother now grows sweet potatoes to support Wu, his 12-year-old brother and their grandmother.

The center, which began enrolling students in its equestrian program in 2015, has produced more than 200 graduates. Most are rural teenagers like Wu, students who completed nine years of compulsory education but did not advance to senior high school. The school partners with an equestrian town a few kilometers away, where students receive free riding training.

"We want to provide opportunities for these young people, who might otherwise be too young and unprepared for the job market," said Zou Bingyue, a school official. Today, most graduates work at equestrian clubs in Beijing, Shanghai and the eastern province of Zhejiang, trotting on productive and rewarding paths.

GALLOPING FASTER VIA NEW "HORSEPOWER"

The story of the horse in China is also one of enduring legacy fueling modern connectivity, as millions hit the road for family reunions or sightseeing tours during the annual Spring Festival holiday period.

For Liu Ying, 53, a bank employee in Beijing, a new direct high-speed rail link means her first seamless journey home to Jingyuan County in northwest China's Gansu Province, a historic Silk Road stagecoach post where horses once defined travel. "Over the decades, the train journey home has shortened from almost 40 hours to just nine hours," said Liu, who has been making her yearly Spring Festival trip home since 1993, the year she started working in the capital.

Before this latest update to the national railway schedule for the first quarter of 2026, the train from Beijing could only take her to Gansu's provincial capital Lanzhou, located 130 km from Jingyuan, or to Baiyin, a city 70 km away from her hometown. The final leg of the journey, including transfers and waiting, could take several hours. "Thanks to the new direct train to Jingyuan, I can now visit my parents and sisters more often," she said.

Since Jan. 26 this year, a new high-speed route has directly connected Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province with Zunyi in the southwestern province of Guizhou, two iconic cities in the Chinese revolutionary history. The one-way trip takes less than nine hours, compared to the former 16 hours. 

China's expressways now cover 99 percent of cities with a population of over 200,000 and the country's high-speed railway network has exceeded 50,000 km, reaching 97 percent of cities with an urban population of more than 500,000. Aviation services, meanwhile, currently reach 92.6 percent of prefecture-level regions.

While the Chinese word for "road" historically relates to a path for horses, the new type of "horsepower" available today is also characterized by the country's rapid shift toward electric mobility. Official data showed that by the end of 2025, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet had reached 43.97 million. In 2025 alone, roughly 13 million NEVs were registered, making up almost half of all new car registrations in the country.

Meanwhile, China has also built the world's largest NEV charging network, which can meet the charging demands of more than 40 million NEVs, according to the National Energy Administration.

(Xinhua reporters Zhao Jinzheng and Guo Chen in Anhui, Li Aoqiu, Shao Kun and Zhang Xinyi in Shandong contributed to the story. Video reporters: Sun Lei, Zhen Xiaobo, Xu Langxuan, Cao Jiyang, Long Lingyu, Tang Wenhao, Guo Gang; video editors: Yang Zeyi, Luo Hui)  ■