Experience the magic of Liuyang, where fireworks art meets modern innovation, and every burst of light tells a story of romance and time.
As night fell, the sky above the Liuyang River burst into light.
A 160-meter “Fireworks Light Tower” rose like a glowing bridge between earth and stars. The show — themed “A Journey of Light” — opened the 17th Liuyang Fireworks Festival in central China, blending technology and art into a dazzling spectacle for audiences worldwide.
From Dots to Lines, and Then to a Sky of Light
The centrepiece this year was the world’s first tower-based fireworks performance — the Fireworks Light Tower. Standing 160 meters tall, it is one of the tallest firing structures ever built, elevating the ancient craft of fireworks to new heights.
When the sparks no longer burst as single dots but stretch upward in lines, forming layers of colour across the night sky, the effect is breathtaking.
Director Huang Cheng said, “The tower was built to express the feeling of distance and time — to let people feel a sense of romance that reaches across light-years.”
For Ms Li, who travelled from Beijing for the show, it was unforgettable. “When the tower lit up, the whole crowd went silent,” she said. “Then came waves of ‘wow.’ The scene — from the ‘Tree of Life’ to the ‘Light of Technology’ — was more spectacular than any sci-fi movie.”
Besides, more than five million people watched the livestream on Douyin (TikTok China). Comments flooded in: “I can feel the shock through the screen.” “This is Chinese romance — no special effects can match it.” “I want to see this with someone I love.”
One local wrote on Xiaohongshu, “Fireworks are like the sun and moon — everyone can look up and share the same light.”
From the Hometown of Fireworks to the Global Stage
This year, Liuyang’s fireworks teams combined traditional pyrotechnics with drones and multimedia art. They created spectacular displays such as The Gate of Sky and Rain of Light. They also broke two Guinness World Records. One was for the largest number of fireworks launched by a drone formation. The other was for the most drones controlled by a single computer, with 15,947 aircraft flying together.
Liuyang, known as the birthplace of fireworks for over a thousand years, continues to light up the world in new ways. Moreover, in 2024, the city’s fireworks industry generated more than RMB 50 billion (roughly £5.3 billion) in output, accounting for 70% of China’s total exports. More than 1,800 fireworks shows were staged both in China and abroad.
For example, many fireworks that light up Britain’s Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve come from Liuyang.
In addition, according to Changsha Customs, exports of fireworks from Hunan to the European Union reached RMB 160 million(about £16.9 million) in the first quarter of this year, up 67.4% year-on-year. Shipments to the UK grew fastest — by 384.9% — followed by Poland, Germany, and Italy.
Today, China’s fireworks tell new stories in light and flame. From a single hand-lit spark to thousands of drones in the sky, each display amazes. From Liuyang to London, the glow carries the same emotion — wonder, joy, and a reminder that we all share the same sky.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by CNS.
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