February 17 marks this year's Chinese New Year, a cornerstone of Chinese culture. At its heart are the ideas of reunion, continuity, and the passing down of traditions across generations.

On China's sweeping grasslands, this spirit finds vivid expression in the enduring bond between people and horses. For centuries, horses have been much more than companions for work and travel – they are woven into local life, memory and spiritual imagination. Shaped by trust, resilience and mutual reliance, this intergenerational connection has become a living thread in the story of China's grassland civilization.

"Horses are the spirits of the grassland," said Manlai, a horse trainer from the Hulunbuir Grassland in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

"The Horse Whisperers" follows Manlai and his aging partner, a 31-year-old yellow horse that once set a Guinness World Record. Beyond documenting daily training routines, the film captures how Manlai passes on time-honored skills and the philosophy behind them to his apprentices. At its core, it reveals a deep bond between humans and animals, embodying the traditional Chinese belief in harmony between humanity and nature.