Dressed in black, Tao Mingxiu gallops across the vast steppe in Kazakhstan, her left hand holding the reins and an eagle perched on her right arm. Her striking silhouette, captured in a short video, has earned millions of likes on social media.
Known to her fans as "Tao Tao", Tao is a horse-loving young woman from Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, and a social media influencer with nearly 10 million followers across multiple platforms.
Over the past two years, she has visited Kazakhstan six times, traveling to major destinations including Astana and Almaty, as well as Akmola, East Kazakhstan and Mangystau regions. She has shared more than 100 posts about the country, attracting more than 1 billion views in total.
In May 2025, Tao was awarded the title of "Tourism Ambassador of Kazakhstan" by Kazakh Tourism. In April 2026, she received the Order of Dostyk (Friendship) II degree on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan. The honor recognized her contribution to promoting Kazakhstan in Chinese media, showcasing its cultural heritage and tourism potential and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
With 2026 designated as the China-Kazakhstan Year of Cultural Exchange, Tao said she felt deeply honored to receive the award. "I don't think this medal belongs to me alone," she said. "It represents the bond between China and Kazakhstan, and I'm proud to be part of that story."
Bonding on horseback
Born in 1997 into a rural family in Kunming, Tao developed a love of horses at an early age. As a child, she often observed horse-drawn carts in her village. On weekends, her mother would take her to nearby towns on one of those carts.
"I remember being amazed by their strength," she said. "Horses could pull a cart full of people with such steadiness. That image stayed with me."
But it was not until five years ago, when Tao rode a horse for the first time, that she discovered her true passion for riding. Since then, she has spent much of her time at horse farms, training intensively and honing her skills.
"My total practice time is comparable to that of someone who has been riding for more than a decade," she said.
Over the years, Tao has been injured many times.
"A horse is not a machine. It has its own mind and temper," she explained. "One day it might be gentle, and the next it might be in a bad mood and refuse to cooperate."
Yet she has never thought of quitting.
"When you truly love something, you don't give up on it," she said.
Tao's videos are often simple: riding across open land, holding an eagle or experiencing local traditions in Kazakhstan. Yet their reach has been remarkable. Through scenes of landscapes, animals and everyday life, she has introduced Chinese audiences to places and cultures they may never have seen before.
"I hope Chinese audiences can discover the real Kazakhstan — a welcoming neighbor with a rich culture of its own," she said.
Her content has also evolved into a two-way cultural exchange, bringing Kazakhstan closer to Chinese viewers while sharing China's landscapes and ethnic traditions overseas.
For example, she has filmed falconers in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and traditional lifestyles in Yunnan.
"I want the world to see the beauty of China," she said. "I hope people-to-people exchanges will become more regular in the future, with more youth programs as well as cultural and sports events, so that grassroots ties can take root in people's hearts."
Tao calls herself a "little horse handler". For her, horses are not only a personal passion, but also a way to bring people closer together.
"I believe the friendship between China and Kazakhstan will be like a steed on the grassland — running endlessly into the future, generation after generation," she said.
Contact the writers at liyingqing@chinadaily.com.cn
