Cui Wentao, deputy director of the Shandong Art Museum in Jinan, Shandong province, believes the product's popularity lies not only in capturing the spirit of ink master Qi's original work, but also in hitting an emotional nerve.

"This product makes the image of the horse cuter and its hair fluffier. The long hair can be braided into various shapes, which satisfies consumers' desire for participation, fulfilling both emotional and aesthetic values," Cui says.

He adds that successful cultural creative products often share two traits: "cultural depth" and "the pursuit of personalized expression".

Another viral horse comes from the Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou, Gansu province. This "green horse" doll — with big buck teeth, a tilted head, and standing on a bird with a resigned expression — took the internet by storm back in 2022 upon its release. Its "ugly-cute" look never fails to bring a smile.

The design inspiration for this horse originates from the museum's well-known treasure: a bronze horse treading on a flying swallow from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). This classic masterpiece of ancient Chinese sculpture depicts a spirited horse in full gallop, with its hoof on the bird. The horse's posture is vigorous, with limbs elegantly stretched and head slightly raised. Meanwhile, the swallow, rendered with a light and graceful form, supports the hoof as if soaring through the air.