On the evening of December 28, the sky of Liuyang city, Hunan province, China, was lit up by a grand fireworks and drone display, opening a series of events to welcome the new year 2025.
This is not only the last event in the weekend fireworks program series but also a "light festival" marking the pinnacle of global fireworks art.
More than 10,000 fireworks have been launched, reaching a peak of over 300 meters, combined with 1,000 drones to create an unprecedented sparkling sky scene.
A special highlight is the 1,800 green fireworks arranged to simulate the scene of "ice rain" in the air, evoking a magical feeling like in a fairy tale.
Not stopping there, the program also left its mark with 2,025 lantern-shaped fireworks, carrying 2,025 good wishes from people and tourists, sending hope for a peaceful and successful new year.
Liuyang has long been known as the "fireworks capital" of China, with a history associated with the fireworks industry since the Tang Dynasty (618-907). According to legend, Li Qian - a son of this land - was the first person to make firecrackers from explosives in bamboo tubes to ward off evil spirits.
Currently, Liuyang is not only the world's largest fireworks manufacturing center but also a symbol of creativity in this industry. Fireworks from Liuyang appear in important events in more than 100 countries, from birthdays, weddings, to national holidays.
Statistics show that the city's fireworks sales account for 50% of China's total domestic market and 60% of the country's export value.
In recent years, Liuyang has pioneered the development of environmentally friendly fireworks products, minimizing negative impacts on nature while still maintaining impressive visual effects. New standards on safety and performance are also applied, affirming the leading position in the industry.
According to China Daily, currently, the fireworks industry in Liuyang provides jobs for more than 300,000 workers and pays nearly 1 billion yuan in taxes annually. In 2023 alone, the total value of fireworks and explosive fireworks production here reached 50.89 billion yuan, up 69% over the previous year.
Since 2023, Liuyang has organized a fireworks show every Saturday night to promote tourism. This event has attracted more than 5 million visitors in just two years. The performance on December 28 alone gathered more than 100,000 spectators at the city's "Sky Theater", making it a must-see destination during the year-end festival season.
Fireworks in Liuyang are not only a symbol of art but also a bond between culture and people. Each fireworks display shot into the sky carries messages of solidarity, hope and a bright future.
With creativity and continuous aspiration, Liuyang is not only continuing to write the story of "the homeland of fireworks" but also lighting up dreams that transcend all borders.
