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A dazzling fireworks display choreographed by Zhong Liang illuminates the night sky on February 2, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Zhong Liang

Editor's Note:

In recent years, with the continuous upgrading of China's products and the acceleration of internationalization, many local specialties in China have gradually broken regional boundaries and entered global markets, becoming new favorites among international consumers. In this "My Treasured Hometown" series, we will focus on these distinctive local products and explore how, through preserving the traditions and making innovations to break new ground, they have evolved from small workshops and family factories into internationally recognized brands.

The second installment reveals how Liuyang, a county-level city in China, rose to become the world's fireworks hub through continuous innovation and improvement. Local firework makers tell stories of cultural exchange and integration through their dazzling displays illuminating different skies around the globe.

During the Spring Festival holiday, millions across China and beyond were captivated by breathtaking displays of fireworks that transformed night skies into vibrant canvases of light. At the heart of this dazzling celebration was Liuyang, widely known as "hometown of fireworks," a county-level city in Central China's Hunan Province.

This stunning, festive celebration was not limited to Liuyang. On Chinese New Year's Eve which fell on January 28 this year, thousands of people gathered at Mianyang's Jinxi Lake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province to witness a synchronized spectacle directed by Huang Cheng, a fireworks maestro from Liuyang. As thousands of fireworks erupted in fiery blooms, they were accompanied by intricate drone formations that painted scenes of poetry and festivity. 

Meanwhile, in Penang, Malaysia, Liuyang-crafted fireworks lit up the night with colorful "seven-colored auspicious clouds" and enchanting "blue oceans," drawing cheers from delighted spectators. 

For Liuyang's firework makers, Spring Festival marks a period of intense activity and pride. Huang, who has dedicated 15 years to this craft, has spent nine New Year's Eves at the helm of the control panel of firework displays in various locations across China.  

"Fireworks hold deep cultural significance for Chinese people, symbolizing happiness and hope carried on the wings of vibrant light. Liuyang is a city where this centuries-old tradition meets modern technology to bring joy and light to homes across China and beyond," Huang told the Global Times.

Liuyang is deemed the world's fireworks hub. Today, the city boasts 431 firework and firecracker manufacturing enterprises, generating an annual output value exceeding 50 billion yuan ($6.86 billion). China stands as the world's largest producer and exporter of fireworks and firecrackers, with almost 70 percent of its exports originating from Liuyang, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Beyond the spectacle, driven by technological advancements and cultural innovation, Liuyang's fireworks industry illuminates not just the sky, but also serves as a unique ambassador of Chinese culture on the global stage, showcasing a dazzling spectacle of tradition and modernity for international spectators.  

From hand-crafted to high-tech

A firework display featuring drones and Liuyang fireworks is hosted in Liuyang, Central China's Hunan Province, on December 31, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Yi Xin

"I am honored to witness Liuyang's transformation from 'handicraft workshops' to 'tech-powered factory clusters,'" said Huang.

Liuyang's industrial and cultural DNA is intertwined with pyrotechnics. The city's most famous road is called "Fireworks Avenue," and its most revered temple is dedicated to the legendary inventor of firecrackers Li Tian, preserving a 1,400-year legacy. Legend has it that Li drew inspiration from bamboo crackling in fire, pioneering the earliest firecrackers and igniting a craft that still defines the city today.

Once a niche and hazardous industry, China's fireworks sector had met strict regulations and safety challenges. Policy shifts in recent year, however, have accelerated its reinvention. Many places like Dongying, Binzhou, and Dalian permitted regulated firework releases in designated areas at specified times during the 2025 Spring Festival, while cities such as Liuyang, Shanghai, and Tianjin leveraged grand pyrotechnic displays to boost cultural tourism.

"Fireworks sales during the Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival periods now account for 60 to 70 percent of our annual revenue," Zhong Liang, vice general manager of the Liuyang Dancing Fireworks Group, told the Global Times. 

Liuyang has a long history of firework production and is a leader in terms of employee proficiency and the precision of raw and auxiliary materials. However, firework companies in Liuyang are well aware that traditional products also need continuous innovation and development to meet market demand, said Zhong.

As more environmentally friendly, safer, and more entertaining firework products emerge, technological innovation is changing the consumption scenarios of fireworks. Huang, an electronic engineer, epitomizes this fusion of tradition and innovation. After founding the fireworks show brand "Fire-show," he pioneered scenario-based firework art, blending pyrotechnics with storytelling, music, and drones. 

"Fireworks were once an art of gunpowder and paper tubes; now, they're a dance of digits and code," he told Global Times.

Advanced electronic systems that synchronize fireworks with music, lights, and drone formations at the snap of a finger have become a common feature in many fireworks shows. 

"Coordinating thousands of igniters within 0.1-second margins - this is the confidence Chinese technology affords," Huang said. He also noted that the breakthroughs in Chinese drone technology have also enabled fireworks to break through physical limitations. "In the past, it was difficult to achieve both payload capacity and formation flying. Now, a single drone can carry 3 kilograms of fireworks and form dynamic patterns." 

The Fire-show is pushing boundaries further. Yi Xin, the general manager of the brand center of the Fire-show, told the Global Times that the company's team is currently developing firework installation art, embedding firework elements into sculptures or buildings. The company is also working on wearable firework skirts using cold fireworks to avoid burns.

Romantic cultural narratives

On February 2, a dazzling firework display choreographed by Zhong's team illuminated the night sky. One particularly memorable moment saw a swarm of drones carrying "golden" fireworks ascend into the sky, forming a colossal gilded "gold coin" pattern - a stunning fusion of technology and ancient folklore, celebrating the Chinese tradition of welcoming wealth on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year.

Adding to this visual spectacle, large drones equipped with blue fireworks also painted the sky with scenes from the classic Chinese tale "The Legend of the White Snake." As the fireworks shimmered, they depicted Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian's reunion on the bridge, a classic scene in the tale. 

"In the midst of this visual feast, it is the essence of Chinese culture that truly captivates," Zhong said.

This cultural storytelling continued on the international stage. In October 2024, Liuyang Dancing Fireworks Group claimed victory at the 32nd Macao International Fireworks Display Contest with their performance "Mulan." 

Using the haunting melody of the horse-head fiddle and the thunderous percussion of Chinese opera drums, it created a cultural experience that transcends space and time. The performance resonated deeply with viewers worldwide, who took to social media platforms expressing pride in China's artistic prowess. 

Liuyang's fireworks manufacturing has already achieved impressive production value. "As our cultural confidence grows, we hope to infuse the fireworks with the power of excellent Chinese cultural creativity, elevating both the brand and cultural creative values of Liuyang fireworks," Huang said.

"Gunpowder is one of China's four great inventions. Fireworks are a living testament to gunpowder civilization and a good medium for telling Chinese stories," Huang said.

Today in Liuyang, artisans are using sky as their canvas. They weave cultural Chinese motifs like the 24 solar terms, the legendary of Wukong, and panoramic landscape paintings into their fiery narratives.

"My team now uses international competitions as a platform to exhibit cultural symbols," Zhong said. In competitions in Germany, the Philippines, and other countries, his team has used fireworks to depict iconic scenes like the "fire phoenix" and "dragon exhaling," drawing inspiration from the Peking Opera and folk performance "Datiehua," which means making "iron flowers."

"Foreigners may not understand Chinese, but they can read China's romance through fireworks," Zhong said.

For Yi, dedicating himself to China's unique firework culture holds immense personal significance. While sharing heartwarming anecdotes with the Global Times, Yi revealed observations that filled him with both pride and contentment.

"More lovers are choosing our fireworks displays as the backdrop for their proposals," he said gleefully. "Families are coming together - parents and children, all enjoying the fireworks show side by side. And students abroad choose hometown fireworks as their phone wallpapers…"

Yi sees a blossoming of human connection fueled by this cultural phenomenon. He believes that Chinese firework culture is redefining the spiritual homelands of contemporary people, one dazzling spark at a time.

"Fireworks can carry people's emotions. And for Liuyang, fireworks are more than just an industry; they serve as a powerful affectional tie connecting tradition and modernity, the past and the future," Yi said.

Ignite global appeal

A worker carries firework products in Liuyang, Hunan Province, on January 17, 2025. Photo: VCG

Liuyang's fireworks, renowned for their artistry and innovation, are capturing hearts worldwide. A recent video showing German shoppers queuing outside a supermarket at 4 am for Chinese fireworks went viral on social media, highlighting the growing global demand. 

According to data from German Federal Statistical Office, imports of fireworks surged in 2024, with 99 percent originating from China during the first three quarters.

This surge in exports is also reflected in figures from Hunan. According to statistics released by the Changsha Customs, Hunan Province exported fireworks and firecrackers worth 4.84 billion yuan in 2024, representing a 10.1 percent year-on-year increase. The US remained the largest export market for Hunan fireworks, while emerging consumer markets in Southeast Asia and South America experienced significant growth.

"China's fireworks are popular abroad due to their exquisite craftsmanship, diverse offerings, rapid product iteration, and competitive pricing," Wen Guanghui, chairman of the export division of the Liuyang Fireworks Association, told the Global Times. 

Zhong revealed that his company saw a 30 percent year-on-year increase in exports in 2024, with exports of about $13 million, of which more than a third were exported to European countries.

In the past, most Liuyang fireworks enterprises primarily acted as contract manufacturers, creating products based on the demands of European and American clients, according to Zhong.

However, a new trend is emerging. Many overseas customers are now proactively reaching out to purchase high-end products every time after seeing Liuyang's innovative new product releases, Zhong said, noting that his company has embraced this trend, establishing branches abroad and focusing on high-end professionally launched fireworks.

"Currently, overseas clients, including event organizers and theme parks, are increasingly requesting custom-designed fireworks shows that blend Liuyang's artistry with local cultural themes. Many clients also hope that our fireworks troupes incorporate more Chinese elements into their performances," Yi said. 

Yi pointed out that this reflects the evolving landscape of the industry, where "China's fireworks story" resonates beyond product sales.

"Fireworks are a signal without language, and an inclusive art form that can transcend borders to convey friendship," Huang said.

In his eyes, a new chapter is unfolding in Liuyang - one in which fireworks transcend national borders, becoming a universal language of celebration and friendship. 

"Underneath skies both domestic and international, Liuyang's creations paint vibrant narratives of cultural exchange, and the enduring legacy of ancient craftsmanship infused with modern innovation," Huang said.

Symphony of sparks