Galloping horses Photo: VCG

As the first light of the Year of the Horse is about to break upon the horizon, the Global Times proudly presents this Spring Festival special issue.

At this moment full of hope and anticipation, the resounding remarks from Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2026 New Year message - charge ahead like horses with courage, vitality, and energy - become both compass and clarion.

It is more than a tribute to Chinese tradition; it is an invitation to the world, extended in the spirited essence of the horse, to embark on a shared journey toward renewal.

Nothing reflects the meaning of the Spring Festival better than the joyous faces of the people, whether they embark on the journey home or stick to their posts high up on the Qomolangma even during the holiday. We dedicate this special issue to people on the fields, in factory workshops, communities, streets, the front lines of the travel rush, and to all those contributing their passion to the nation's endeavors.

Since its inscription onto UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Spring Festival has entered a new era on the world stage. For long, from lion dances lighting up London's Chinatown to couplets adorning New York's Times Square; from reunion feasts among families in Kuala Lumpur to festive decorations gracing the streets in Cape Town, the festival radiates universal values of togetherness and harmony, offering the world a vision of warmth and hope.

Poster of the Spring Festival special issue Photo: Global Times

Renowned writer and cultural scholar Feng Jicai played a pivotal role in this achievement, lending his dedication and expertise in folk culture to ensure the festival's successful inclusion on the UNESCO list. For this year's celebration, the Global Times specially invited Mr. Feng to graciously contribute a piece of calligraphy entitled Horse Galloping into a New Chapter.

In the characters - "gallop" (跃) and "new chapter" (新程) - we find momentum and aspiration; and the horse (马), a timeless symbol of speed, strength, and responsibility, mirrors humanity's collective pursuit of progress and purpose.

This imagery resonates deeply with the spirit of the Year of the Horse, inspiring us to embrace the vigor of this auspicious Chinese Zodiac animal and stride into the future through mutual learning among civilizations.

Let the Spring Festival be not only a celebration of Chinese heritage and achievement, but also a global rendezvous of springtime hope.

Wishing you all a joyful Spring Festival and an auspicious Year of the Horse!

Global Times