Bronze Galloping Horse (Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow)

Discovered in 1969 in a Eastern Han tomb at Wuwei, Gansu Province, this 34.5 cm bronze captures the impossible instant when a horse at full gallop overtakes a swallow in flight, pressing its rear hoof onto the bird's back. The entire sculpture balances on that single point of contact — a feat of bronze casting, weight distribution, and artistic imagination. The horse's three airborne legs, flying mane, open mouth, and tail streaming behind create a snapshot of pure velocity. The identity of the bird beneath is debated — swallow, hawk, or mythical creature — but the aerodynamic metaphor is clear: this horse is faster than flight itself. In 1983, the National Tourism Administration adopted the silhouette as China's official tourism symbol, making it one of the most reproduced artworks in the country.