Chinese Zodiac Labels: A New Window for the World to Understand China
After three years of preparation and filming across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, Horse Power presents a panoramic record of the stories of seven representative horses around the world.
Young horse named "Tu Lai" and the 8-year-old girl Zhula. (CNS)
On the Xilingol grasslands of Inner Mongolia, the bond between a young horse named "Tu Lai" and an 8-year-old girl, Zhula, evolves from unfamiliarity to deep understanding—revealing tenderness and resilience in the relationship between humans and horses. In the deserts of Xinjiang, China, the Przewalski's horse, once extinct in the wild and later reintroduced to its native habitat, embodies the resilience of species across time and a longing for freedom. In the wilds of the Americas, feral horses defend their homeland with neighing cries that reflect the most primal force and loyalty of life. There are also the legendary speed of the Arabian horse and the bravery of police horses in the Netherlands…
"No animal expresses such a rich range of emotions and dramatic tension as the horse. I am deeply astonished and awed by them," said Mark Brownlow, director of Horse Power, whose core production team also worked on Blue Planet II.
Mark Brownlow is a renowned figure in the field of natural history documentary filmmaking. Productions he has served as producer, director, or writer on—including Blue Planet II, Frozen Planet II, South Pacific, and Eden: Untamed Planet—are widely regarded as landmark works.
Reflecting on the filming experience, Brownlow stated: "Horses and humans have been inseparably connected for thousands of years. They remain profoundly important today, even capable of slowing their heartbeats to synchronize with humans. This extraordinary connection deserves to be seen by the world."
As the film's chief consultant, Zhang Tongdao, professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Arts & Communication, Beijing Normal University, remarked that the production team faced extreme challenges while filming wildlife. "They could not use soap, toothpaste, or anything we normally use to clean ourselves in cities. They slept in sleeping bags in the wilderness in order to capture such precious footage."
According to reports, in order to film the rare scenes of wild American horses, the crew spent a month in the vast Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, using advanced stabilized camera systems mounted on vehicles. On an open vehicle traveling at 60 kilometers per hour with no windshield, they endured extreme cold and ultimately captured footage of two stallions fighting during mating season. To document the reintroduction of Przewalski's horses, the team ventured deep into the deserts of northwestern China, following monitoring staff to find "a needle in a haystack" across a 15,000-square-kilometer reserve. Using 5G cameras and drones, they witnessed the safe reunion of five newly released horses. To portray the life of Mongolian horses on the grassland, the crew immersed themselves in Mongolian daily life, documenting the inheritance of traditional horse-training methods, as well as the passionate moment during the Naadam Festival when Zhula and Tu Lai raced side by side.
Horse Power is China's first true large-format giant-screen documentary film. It has received widespread acclaim globally. In September 2025, at the "GSCA 2025 International Conference" industry premiere held at the Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX theater in Austin, Texas, the film received enthusiastic responses and high praise from the global IMAX and large-format film industry. Distributors from around the world praised its "deeply moving storytelling and breathtaking visual presentation."
The film has already released in China, North America, Europe, and Asia, and will be screened in more than 100 science and technology museum theaters worldwide, as well as broadcast across television and digital platforms in over 100 countries.
"We hope this masterpiece allows more people to experience the charm of horse culture and builds a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the world," said Chen Yuepeng, Head of Mainland Affairs at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at a special screening event on April 21. The Hong Kong Jockey Club provided exclusive public-interest support for the film's global distribution, as part of its commitment to cultural heritage, public science education, and cultural exchange.
In the view of chief producer Shu Yun, the film demonstrates both the enduring power of horses and the ability of Eastern culture, through nature storytelling, to transcend borders and move global audiences. "When we move beyond the traditional interpretation of zodiac culture and use the world's most familiar and beloved wild-animal blockbuster format to build a bridge for cross-cultural communication, the Chinese zodiac becomes a new window for the world to understand China."
Notably, the domestic version of Horse Power features actor Yu Shi as the narrator. Regarding this collaboration, producer Zhang Li said that Yu Shi demonstrated excellent horsemanship in Creation of the Gods and To the Wonder. He is also the executive director of Chinese Ethnic Minority Sports Association Equestrian Archery Sports Center and possesses a deep love and understanding of horses. "His temperament highly resonates with the film's spirit of 'human-horse coexistence and chasing dreams together.' He agreed as soon as we invited him, remained extremely professional throughout the process, and delivered an excellent final result." (CNS)