Anhui Museum, in collaboration with the China Cultural Relics News and multiple cultural and museum institutions nationwide, launched the "Galloping into the Spring of the Horse: 2026 Global Zodiac Culture Exhibition" on February 7 at both the Luyang Pavilion and Shushan Pavilion.

The exhibition is divided into three units: "Sacred Steeds of Nature," "Horses Charging Through History," and "Divine Coursers in Folk Art," which respectively explore horses in the natural ecosystem, their role in historical and cultural contexts, and their presence in folk art and customs. Over 50 horse-related artifacts from the museum's collection are on display at Luyang Pavilion, while more than 140 images of horse-themed cultural relics are presented at Shushan Pavilion. Through the Anhui Provincial Museum Alliance, the exhibition will be extended to 61 museums across the province.

According to Feng Chao, Director of the Exhibition Planning and Exchange Department at Anhui Museum, this zodiac-themed exhibition marks the beginning of the museum's new annual program. In addition to the Horse Year zodiac exhibition, visitors during the Lunar New Year period can also enjoy several other special exhibitions at Shushan Pavilion, including "In Pursuit of Etiquette: A Selection of Guo State Treasures from the Zhou Dynasty" and "Mawangdui: A Family's Dream of Eternity in the Western Han Dynasty." At Luyang Pavilion, the exhibition "The Yellow River Flowing Through the Grasslands: Cultural Relics Masterpieces from Inner Mongolia's Yellow River Basin" is also on display. Featuring over 170 exquisite artifacts unearthed from the Western Zhou Guo State cemetery, 200 pieces (sets) of Mawangdui Han Dynasty treasures, and more than 200 cultural relics from Inner Mongolia's Yellow River region, these inter-museum exchanges and co-curated exhibitions bring the profound richness of Chinese civilization closer to audiences.

"It's a perfect fit for the occasion! I'll take images of select cultural relics from the collection and reinterpret them through the art of paper-cutting, turning them into various cultural and creative products." said Liu Ninghou, a leading representative of the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage project Luyang Paper-cutting, who has participated in Anhui Museum's intangible cultural heritage interactive displays and performances for many years. During the Spring Festival, these intangible cultural heritage experiences have become increasingly popular among visitors, thanks to their strong interactive appeal and festive atmosphere.

On February 7, Anhui Museum hosted the launch of the province-wide "Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Museum" initiative. As part of the program, Anhui Museum has rolled out over 40 events, including fun check-in challenges, intangible cultural heritage experiences, interactive contests, and educational workshops. 

"With activities scheduled every day, visitors of all ages can participate, with a strong emphasis on interaction and immersive engagement," said Zhang Peng, Director of the Social Education Department at Anhui Museum. "We hope more tourists and visitors will come to Anhui Museum and experience a Spring Festival filled with knowledge, fun, and warmth."

As the Year of the Horse approaches, cultural and creative products are being launched at a "galloping" pace. At the Anhui Museum cultural and creative shop, reporters observed that over 80 new products from series such as "Horse Brings Fortune," "Elegant Huizhou Collection," "New Narratives of Ancient Bronzes," and "Anhui-Inspired Adornments" are hitting the shelves. Blending everyday aesthetics with practical functionality, and historical depth with modern appeal, they have already attracted a steady stream of visitors.

The "Horse Brings Fortune" zodiac series draws inspiration from horse motifs in the museum's collection, combining auspicious symbolism to create a diverse range of items—including creative calendars, plush toys, fridge magnets, and home decorations. The "Elegant Huizhou Collection" incorporates elements of Anhui's fish lanterns and Huizhou architecture into daily-use products such as fridge magnets and bookmarks. Meanwhile, the "New Narratives of Ancient Bronzes" series extracts motifs from the museum's bronze collection, bridging ancient craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Collecting souvenir stamps has become a new travel trend among young visitors. According to Ma Wenjuan, Director of the Cultural and Creative Department at Anhui Museum, the Anhui Museum Stamp Society has launched several new stamp designs this year. Inspired by exquisite patterns and motifs from the museum's collection, these stamps transform institutional knowledge into visually appealing and delightful symbols—offering visitors a unique way to preserve their museum memories.

Source: Anhui Daily