The Tortoise and the Hare is one of the most famous fables of all time, with it being taught to millions of children every year.

But now a farm in Beijing has tested out if Aesop’s fable is true to life, by racing a hare and a tortoise.

The race, hosted and filmed at Wow Farm and shared on X by @TheFigen_, features a real hare and tortoise competing on a brightly decorated cardboard track.

Staff members held the animals at one end, while eager spectators gathered to watch the action unfold. 

True to the tale, the white hare initially darted ahead, making it halfway down the track in a matter of seconds, while the tortoise – much slower by nature – trailed behind. 

A farm in China has brought one of the most fables to life: Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare – but will the reptile’s ‘slow and steady’ approach win the race?

But what seemed like a certain victory for the hare in the 38-second race took a familiar turn. 

Distracted by the crowd, the hare frequently paused to sniff the ground, preen its fur, and even freezing on the spot to gaze at the cheering onlookers.

Read More

Woke Australian university review wants children’s classic to become  ‘The Ghanaian Goldilocks’ to be inclusive for multicultural kids

Meanwhile, the tortoise methodically pressed on, surpassing its speedier rival towards the finish line.

Despite being guided to the bottom track by spectators waving feathers, the hare attempted a last-minute hop before surrendering by flopping to the ground, seemingly unfazed by the tortoise’s victory. 

The clip has since amassed more than 42M views on X, with some people expressing shock at the hare’s loss, while others took to the comments to reflect on the enduring lesson that ‘slow and steady wins the race.’

Adamant that the hare had been ‘distracted’ by the crowd, one person wrote: ‘They were distracting the hare. REMATCH!!’

Another agreed, writing: ‘Probably would’ve helped if there wasn’t a bunch of people at the end. I feel like the thing was terrified.’

Distracted by the crowd, the hare frequently paused to sniff the ground, preen its fur, and even freezing on the spot to gaze at the cheering onlookers

Some people expressed shock at the hare’s loss, while others took to the comments to reflect on the enduring lesson that ‘slow and steady wins the race’

Meanwhile, one person wrote, ‘That fable is true,’ while another said, ‘Difference between a focused person and a distracted person.’

A third said: ‘So it is true the hare started off faster but slept off under a tree but the tortoise kelp on moving slowly finished the race.’

Finally, another wrote: ‘It’s funny to think of the classic fable playing out in real life! While speed can be an advantage, the tortoise’s steady persistence shows that consistency often wins in the end.’

It comes as research found many much-loved traditional fairy tales are inappropriate, outdated and too scary for young children, according to young Brits.

Forty-six per cent of Brits under 30 believe that traditional fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel and Rumpelstiltskin, are inappropriate.