As the 2026 Year of the Horse canters in, a wide variety of exquisitely crafted Hainan intangible cultural heritage art items featuring the horse, a symbol of strength, vitality, and good luck, are blending traditional arts with modern aesthetics.

Recently, Hainan published a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items for the first quarter of the year, featuring several eye-catching horse themed pieces. These woven rattan, Li Brocade, and agarwood items incorporate auspicious meanings such as 'instant success' and 'galloping wealth', bringing new interpretations to China's traditional zodiac animal.

'Galloping Wealth' woven rattan horse. Photo: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province

Inspired by the lucky Chinese language pun 'galloping wealth' (马上有钱), a Li rattan weaving ICH representative from, Wuzhishan City created a 'Galloping Wealth' woven rattan horse. Making use of the centuries old rattan weaving techniques of the Li people from Maodao Township, the woven horse combines high-level craftsmanship with the Chinese zodiac horse. This adorable home decoration carries wishes for the arrival of wealth and good fortune, adding a traditional Hainan cultural twist to this festive CNY piece.

'Galloping Wealth' Li Brocade horses. Photo: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province

The 'Galloping Wealth' Li Brocade horse series, presented by province level ICH representative Fu Yu, transforms this auspicious saying into small works of art that feature horses carrying gold ingots as well as classic geometric Li Brocade patterns. These cute horses are completely handmade, using natural fibers and plant-based dyes sourced from Hainan, resulting in a naturally soft texture. Meanwhile, 'Galloping Good Luck' ornaments combine stylish striped horses with Li Brocade patterns, symbolizing the rapid arrival of good fortune. These lightweight items can be worn, attached to bags, or placed in a prominent location to show your love for Hainan and China's traditional culture.

'Galloping Good Luck' Li Brocade ornament. Photo: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province

A special Lunar New Year gift box launched by Hu Qiaoyun, a Haikou City level ICH representative, features a classic Chinese red base adorned with the silhouette of a spirited horse. Inside the box are slices of Hainan agarwood, whose qualities—born from scars and matured over time—reflect the dual nature of the horse: 'calm and collected in stillness, galloping thousands of miles in motion.' These perfumed horses signify that good fortune can arrive at any time, adding a touch of elegance to daily life.

Year of the Horse Li Brocade pendant. Photo: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province

In addition, Lin Lianglan, an ICH representative from Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, has specially designed two handmade Year of the Horse Li Brocade pendants combining the traditional auspicious meaning of the horse with the essence of intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship.

These horse themed Hainan intangible cultural heritage items make perfect CNY gifts! They are a vivid example of the ongoing creative transformation and innovative development of the island’s ICH, seamlessly connecting painstaking craftsmanship, unique local aesthetics, and hopes for a better life. The artistic pieces bring traditional culture into our modern lives through jewelry, home furnishings, and elegant gifts, opening a new chapter in the epic story of intangible cultural heritage.

As intangible cultural heritage becomes more intertwined with traditional Spring Festival customs, these auspicious items with local island roots are becoming cultural bonds connecting the past and the future and fusing the traditional with the contemporary, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Year of the Horse and Hainan’s profound cultural heritage.