2026, Add “Horse” to Your Travels
2026, Add “Horse” to Your Travels: Embark on a Journey Galloping Side by Side with Time
As the hoofbeats of the Bingwu Year of the Horse echo through the corridors of time, travel should break free from conventional reins—not just a fleeting glance, but unlocking a new dimension of deep experiences led by the “horse.” In the travel boom of 2026, “dual celebrations of ice and snow and warm winters” and “experience-driven consumption dominating the market” become prominent trends. The integration of the “horse” element makes every journey filled with ceremony and unique memories. Whether galloping across the grasslands or encountering zodiac-themed adventures in ancient cities, you can fully embrace the spirit of the Year of the Horse on your travels.
1. Seeking Horse Traces: Unlock Exclusive Festive Atmosphere at Popular Destinations
On the 2026 travel map, the “horse” element has become the finishing touch for popular destinations. At Harbin Ice and Snow World, nearly a hundred sets of zodiac horse ice sculptures shine brilliantly under AR/VR technology with the theme “Golden Saddle Celebrates the New Year · Ice and Snow Rejoice Together.” Nighttime light shows and New Year’s Eve fireworks complement each other, paired with horse-drawn sleigh rides on Rime Island, adding a touch of childlike fun and grandeur to the ice and snow journey. For those who prefer warm winter escapes, near the coconut groves and beaches of Sanya, family hotels offer “Year of the Horse Fun Packages” featuring handmade horse doll workshops and equestrian experience classes, creating warm interactions amid the blue sea and sky. Meanwhile, in Xi’an’s Tang Paradise Night Market’s “Ice and Snow Tang Trend” district, visitors dressed in Hanfu wander among horse-themed lantern displays and encounter street performers reenacting the “Prosperous Tang Dynasty Horse Troop,” as if traveling back through a thousand years of history.
For travelers seeking immersive horse culture, China Horse Town in Fengning, Hebei, is a must-visit. This grassland resort just 189 kilometers from Beijing follows the “Grassland Silk Road” theme, showcasing architectural styles from 15 countries and 35 exotic performances throughout the day. The flagship show “Dance of the Horses” recreates the Silk Road’s prosperous scenes with over 300 actors and magnificent horses performing a cultural fusion across Eurasia. The live horse battle “War God Zhao Zilong” uses explosive effects and superb horsemanship to restore the grandeur of the Battle of Changban Slope, letting you feel the true essence of the “Dragon Horse Spirit” amid the cheers. Additionally, the children’s play “Sweat Blood Horse” and immersive mini-performances in the Three Kingdoms-themed street offer fun for all ages, truly achieving “two days and one night of different shows and nonstop amusement.”
2. Riding the Horse: Making Experience the Core Scenery of Travel
Travel in 2026 has long shifted from “seeing the world” to “pleasing yourself,” and deep experiences related to “horses” are the perfect vehicle for self-pleasure travel. On a study tour in Aowei Horse Town, you can visit the Horse Culture Museum, touch ancient cavalry equipment and modern racing gear, interact closely with Debao ponies and Friesian horses in the World Famous Horse Park, and craft your own horse-themed handicrafts, letting knowledge take root through experience. This interdisciplinary practical experience is not only suitable for families but also rekindles adults’ curiosity about the world.
If you yearn for nature and freedom, don’t miss the winter-exclusive activities on the Bashang Grassland. Ride a horse-drawn sleigh through snowy forests, listen to the crisp sound of hooves on snow, admire the frost-covered trees like jade and crystal flowers, and in the evening, warm yourself by the fire at a grassland homestay while savoring fragrant roasted lamb leg and chatting with locals about life on horseback. On New Zealand’s summer grasslands, you can take the TSS Earnslaw steamship to a ranch, watch sheepdogs herding sheep and sheep shearing shows, and enjoy a lamb chop dinner paired with wine under the starry sky, experiencing the “warm winter of the Year of the Horse” in the Southern Hemisphere. These experiences are no longer mere travel accessories but become defining core memories of the journey, giving every trip a unique emotional anchor.
3. Galloping Through the Seasons: Collecting Beauty Throughout the Year
In 2026, why not follow the footsteps of the seasons and let the “horse” element run through the entire year? In spring, ride a camel (anciently called the “ship of the desert,” a fellow Silk Road messenger with the horse) across the vast desert and Gobi between Crescent Lake and the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, feeling the vastness of “the spring breeze does not cross Yumen Pass,” and learn about the horse’s vital role on the Silk Road through study tours. In summer, on the Hulunbuir Grassland, don your rider gear and gallop across the endless green carpet, watch herds of cattle and sheep and soaring eagles, and join the grassland bonfire party at night, singing and dancing around the flames to release all stress. In autumn, at Ulan Butong, watch horse herds migrate among golden birch forests, chase the sunset on horseback, and capture the grandeur of “the lone smoke of the desert rising straight” with your camera. In winter, head to Iceland to relax in the Blue Lagoon hot springs under the aurora, imagining the legendary Viking horse riders, blending romance and grandeur into a unique New Year’s memory.
In the Year of the Horse 2026, the meaning of travel is no longer just reaching distant places but meeting a better self along the way. Adding “horse” to your travels means adding a sense of galloping freedom, a depth of culture, and a touch of exclusive festive flavor. Whether it’s zodiac encounters at popular destinations or deep experiences in hidden gems, you can feel the smooth success of “horse arrives, success follows” and the uplifting “Dragon Horse Spirit” as you journey. May you carry your love for the world, break free from conventional reins, and let every trip gallop like a fine horse, making the most of your time and youth.