Experiencing Liuyang Fireworks

Today, Liuyang fireworks can be found in every corner of the world, and fireworks have become an international language that meets both emotional and visual aesthetics.

It takes about an hour to make the 70-kilometer drive eastwards from downtown Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, to reach Liuyang.
Liuyang is a county-level city in Changsha featuring lucid waters and lush mountains. Known as the birthplace of Chinese fireworks, it is a world-famous fireworks hub.
At 8 p.m. on December 14, 2024, a large-scale fireworks show kicked off at the Sky Theater in Liuyang. For about an hour, stunning fireworks and drone performances were accompanied by music, singing, and dancing on stage. From the overture to the finale, fireworks continued shooting up and blooming brilliantly, amazing thousands of spectators and immersing them in a world of “Chinese-style romance.” Since February 2023, Liuyang has offered large-scale fireworks shows every Saturday and holiday. In less than two years, it has gained considerable attention on short video-sharing platforms, both domestically and internationally. For example, just a few days ago, topics related to “Liuyang Fireworks” topped the trending search list on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. 

Among them, a fireworks video titled “Tears at the Sky Gate” went viral. In the video, fireworks were like shooting stars pouring down from the sky.
“Fireworks are tears falling from the sky, representing love that will never fade.” The show was presented by a fireworks business founder in memory of his late mother. This story touched the hearts of countless people and helped Liuyang fireworks evolve to the next level.
“Fireworks have remained popular for so long, not just because they look gorgeous and beautiful, but more importantly, they can make an emotional connection with people, provide emotional value, and even soothe and heal people’s hearts,” said Gao Zhi, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liuyang Municipal Committee.
According to historical records, Chinese fireworks can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) after they were invented by Li Tian (621-690) from Liuyang. In 2006, the production techniques of Liuyang fireworks were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item.

For over 1,400 years, Liuyang fireworks have evolved from simple firecrackers to tens of thousands of varieties with different colors and styles and have been upgraded to perfectly interweave traditional fireworks and modern technology.
At the Changsha venue of the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, stunning fireworks performances carried by 2,500 drones were synchronously broadcasted live by more than 2,300 media outlets in over 200 countries and regions, offering a visual feast combining traditional charm and innovative elements.
Among them, a type called “colorful auspicious clouds” left deep impressions on many netizens. Later, the fireworks product was innovated with more cultural elements in Tianjin, Dunhuang, and other places.
The reason the “colorful auspicious clouds” series has charmed so many is that it was inspired by the “somersault cloud” of Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King, in the well-known Chinese classical novel Journey to the West. The fireworks product not only creates a dynamic and gorgeous atmosphere with beautiful colors, but also conveys good wishes to everyone for the Chinese New Year.
Today, Liuyang fireworks can be found in every corner of the world, and fireworks have become an international language that meets both emotional and visual aesthetics.
Gao revealed that Liuyang has upgraded from simply manufacturing fireworks products to providing a full set of services including technology, talents and other solutions for global fireworks shows.
Currently, most of the fireworks seen at large-scale events around the world come from Liuyang. As the world’s largest production and trade base for firecrackers and fireworks, Liuyang has seen its annual fireworks output exceeding 50 billion yuan (US$6.8 billion) for two consecutive years since 2023.
Gao added that because fireworks shows are live performances providing immersive experiences, the great popularity of Liuyang fireworks has attracted up to 100,000 visitors per day to the city. “Liuyang is strengthening urban construction and welcomes guests and friends from all over the world to come and experience our extremely romantic Chinese fireworks shows,” she said.