As the Year of the Horse approaches, Kunming has unveiled a series of art installations integrating traditional craftsmanship with local culture. These themed displays have quickly become popular photo spots for residents and tourists alike, injecting fresh vitality into the city’s cultural and tourism markets.  

Outside a shopping mall in downtown Kunming, an art installation titled “Noble Horse in Spring” draws crowds eager to take photos. Inspired by Song brocade—a traditional Chinese silk weaving craft—the installation features more than twenty types of brocade fabric, each meticulously hand-cut and pasted together the shape of a proud, upright horse. Beside it stands a five-meter-tall osmanthus tree, together forming a scene of “a horse trending on flower branches,” symbolizing vigor, renewal, and festive joy.

“Noble Horse in Spring” art installation outside a shopping mall in downtown Kunming. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

“We wanted to integrate elements such as Song brocade, paper-cutting, running-horse lanterns, and fresh flowers into the artistic design,” said Wang Liyuan, the creative director of Yunnan Moment Flora Design, a floral art studio. Her studio collaborated with shopping districts and hotels in Kunming, Yuxi, and other cities to create a series of Year-of-the-Horse-themed installations. Each design carries auspicious meanings like “swift fortune” and “success at first try,” combining art with traditional culture and local character.

In front of a department store in Kunming, another installation titled “Swift Fortune” features a rotating lantern as its framework, decorated with intricate paper-cut horses that gently spin within the lightbox. The display carries the blessing of good luck arriving swiftly—“mashang zhuanyun” in Chinese. Surrounding the lantern, blooming camellias set off the paper-cuts and golden lamp frames to delightful effect, while the dynamic paper-cut design invites viewers to interact and engage with the art.  

“Swift Fortune” installation in front of a department store in Kunming. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

According to the organizers, these installations use the horse—the zodiac animal of the coming year—as a cultural symbol to fuse intangible cultural heritage with local motifs and creative industries. The result not only enriches the New Year atmosphere but also draws more visitors to business districts, boosting local tourism and consumption.

Beyond cultural expression, the installations also also link up with local characteristic industries of Kunming. Outside a commercial complex in Chenggong District, the “Galloping Blossoms” installation creatively embodies the city’s reputation as the “Flower Capital of Asia.” The five-meter-tall horse sculpture is covered with handcrafted blossoms whose delicate fabric petals sway in the breeze, evoking the image of a spirited steed running through a field of flowers.  

“Galloping Blossoms” art installation. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

“These themed installations make art tangible and accessible while sharing Kunming’s cultural depth and industrial identity,” said Wang Liyuan. “We hope that as residents and tourists enjoy the festive scenery and take photos, they also appreciate the rich cultural spirit and urban charm of Kunming.”

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Rachel, Flynn)