Year-end Culture Salon: A serendipitous reunion in the world of AI

As 2025 draws to a close, people around the world are looking back–taking stock of the year's highs and lows, its moments of meaning, and what they carry forward.

In the world of AI, this year has been shaped by voices that made history feel present and alive. Now, we welcome back the guests who have been part of that journey all year, as they return for our special program, "Year-End Culture Salon."

Let's kick things off with a quick tour of our guest lineup.

First, the Bronze Galloping Horse – one of China's most iconic cultural symbols. Discovered in a Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) tomb in Wuwei, a major Silk Road city, this bronze steed is captured mid-leap, as if flying on the wind. Powerful, graceful, and full of motion, it has been a standout guest in our "When Relics Speak" series.

Next up is Danglu, a 2,000-year-old bronze horse frontlet from the Luoyang Museum in central China's Henan Province. This ancient artifact unexpectedly stole the spotlight for its uncanny resemblance to one of 2025's hottest toys – Labubu. Dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), it once adorned the forehead of a noble horse, combining protection with style. You met it in our AI-generated video "Is That Labubu? Meet the 2,000-Year-Old Lookalike Taking the Internet by Storm!"

Then there is the "Big-Eared General." One of more than 1,000 stone guardians built to watch over the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127) imperial tombs in Gongyi, Henan Province, this once-serious sentinel now stands amid golden wheat fields. Along with his stone companions, he has earned a new nickname: the "wheat field watcher." This year, he even managed to talk with a Moai statue from Chile's Easter Island in our AI-generated video "Trans-Pacific chat: Chile's Moai meets China's "Big-Eared General."

And finally, our most joyful face of all – the chubby "lucky boy" from Tianjin's Yangliuqing Woodblock New Year prints. A beloved symbol of the festive season, he brings New Year cheer to life. This year, he made an unexpected friend: a Persian cat from Iran, featured in our AI-generated video "'Tianjin makeover' transforms Persian cat into New Year door guardian."

So, a warm round of applause for the return of our old friends. Now, follow the camera as we check in with our colleague Spencer Zhang–who may be just a step away from madness after preparing this year-end show–and see what happens next.