China Decode: What the Fire Horse Reveals About China’s Past and Future

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Vox Media Podcast Network

Careers, Entrepreneurship, Business

4.4 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

China is entering the Year of the Fire Horse — a zodiac pairing that comes around just once every 60 years. The last time was 1966, the year the Cultural Revolution began. So is this simply symbolism… or could it hint at something more? In this special Lunar New Year episode of China Decode, Alice Han is joined by writer and commentator Lijia Zhang to unpack the meaning — and the mythology — behind the Fire Horse. They explore how astrology, politics, and economics intersect at a pivotal moment for China. From falling birth rates and zodiac baby booms to record-breaking Spring Festival travel, what does this year reveal about where China may be headed next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:35.1	Thank you. It's a new workday. Welcome to China Decode. I'm Alice Han.
1:38.4	On today's special edition of China Decode, we are marking the lunar new year as China
1:43.7	enters the Year of the firehorse.
1:46.2	From astrology and political upheaval to birth rates and record-breaking travel, this festival isn't
1:52.3	just about symbolism. It could say a lot about where China is headed next. Today, we're joined by
1:58.1	writer and commentator Li Jia Zhang to help us break it all down.
	...

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