A robot participates at a temple fair on the third day of the Lunar New Year of the Horse in Beijing on February 19, 2026. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP via Getty Images)
It was early evening as they were changing the guard outside one of the embassies and after the two sentries saluted one another, they each clutched their right fist in their left palm in front of their chest and gave a slight bow. It was the first day of the year of the fire horse and the People’s Armed Police soldiers, dressed in green greatcoats, white Sam Browne Belts and brown Lei Feng fur hats like Russian ushankas, were exchanging the baoquan, a new year greeting.
Most shops, offices and restaurants were closed but the streets near Beiji
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