The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway China Decode: What the Fire Horse Reveals About China’s Past and Future
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Feb 17, 2026 
Lijia Zhang, writer and commentator on Chinese society and culture, unpacks the Year of the Fire Horse and its myths. She discusses zodiac-driven fears and hopes, family New Year rituals and travel, and how birth rates, feminism, and youth choices shape modern China. Short, vivid stories illuminate tradition meeting rapid social change.
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Fire Horse Combines Cycles For Volatility
- The Fire Horse (Bing Wu) recurs every 60 years by combining the 12-animal cycle with five elements, producing years seen as volatile and intense.
- Many Chinese fear dramatic change in Fire Horse years because fire can symbolize both renewal and destruction.
Reunion Dinner Anchors The Festival
- Lijia Zhang recalls the reunion dinner as the festival's core, when migrant workers rush home and families reunite for a special feast.
- She describes childhood memories of the Fu character and placing it upside down to signal incoming fortune.
Account For Zodiac When Choosing Risk
- Consider superstition when making risky financial or life choices during a Fire Horse year, as some people avoid big moves.
- Lijia Zhang says she would avoid risky investments in a turbulent zodiac year.