Liuyang fireworks shine globally with innovation, tradition

Liuyang, the fireworks capital of China, is lighting up the global market with a mix of rich heritage, cutting-edge technology, and breathtaking displays.

Located in central China's Hunan Province, Liuyang has long been at the heart of the global fireworks industry. Known as the "Hometown of Chinese Fireworks," the city is home to 431 production companies, generating an annual output value exceeding 50 billion yuan (about 6.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Liuyang's fireworks account for 70 percent of China's total exports, securing its dominant position in the global market.

The town of Dayao, part of Liuyang, holds both historical and industrial importance, as the birthplace of firecrackers more than 1,400 years ago. The region's rich sulfur mines and yellow clay soil provide ideal conditions for fireworks production. Today, Dayao has become the world's largest hub for fireworks and related materials, with products reaching all corners of the globe.

Fireworks production in the region has been passed down through generations.

Zhao Kai, general manager of Liuyang Star-River Fireworks Trading Co., Ltd., is one example, having taken over the business from his father.

Zhao recently reported an increase in international orders, reflecting growing demand from overseas markets.

"I just had an order placing meeting with the German customer this morning. They discussed the last sales season in 2024 with us. And their overall sales were with an increase of 10 percent over the previous season. The customers gave us great confidence," he said.

According to data from Changsha Customs, Hunan Province exported 4.84 billion yuan (about 662 million U.S. dollars) worth of fireworks in 2024, marking a 10.1 percent year-on-year increase.

The United States remains the largest market, while countries in Southeast Asia and South America are seeing substantial growth in imports.

Exports to Europe reached 1.85 billion yuan (about 255 million U.S. dollars), with Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom showing significant increases in their fireworks imports.

China has also led the way in standardizing fireworks safety. In 2017, the country introduced nine ISO international standards to ensure environmental safety and minimize the impact of fireworks.

"This is for us to measure whether the discharged fireworks can have impacts on our environment and the degree of influence. We have this our self-developed system to do that," said Zhu Yuping, deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Fireworks and Firecrackers Product Safety and Quality Inspection Center.

Liuyang's innovation extends beyond production to live fireworks shows. Since 2023, the city has hosted a weekly fireworks festival featuring elaborate, creative displays.

One standout performance uses drone-launched fireworks, a trend pioneered by Huang Weide, founder of Kingtime Fireworks Group Co., Ltd.

"The utilization of drones with fireworks began five years ago. The fireworks in the past were launched from the ground into the sky, and this time I use drones to launch fireworks from the sky down. My team also used AI to animate a photo of my mother. It feels like she was coming down from the gates of the sky. At that moment, I was so moved that I shed tears," Huang said.

Drone-based fireworks displays have been made possible by cold, urban-friendly fireworks that generate light through chemical reactions rather than explosions.

"Drones carrying fireworks have now become a mainstream method for our firework displays. The fireworks carried by drones are not very high-temperature ones. We are still improving the payload capacity of drones and also the arrangement of more drones," said Yi Xin, brand director of Hunan Fire-show Troupe Co., Ltd.

Liuyang fireworks shine globally with innovation, tradition

A number of university students in the U.S. capital have shared their views on China's initiative to invite 100,000 young Americans to visit the country for exchanges and study over the next five years.

The program was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping when addressing a welcome ceremony at the White House during his visit to the United States from Wednesday to Friday.

Many of the students interviewed expressed their hope to visit some well-known places in China like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong.

"My dad's been to China for work, and he really loves it, so I'd love to go sometime. Maybe Shanghai. That's where my dad went, and he really liked it there," said a student.

"I've heard of Guangdong. I've heard of the basketball team," another student said.

Many of the students agreed that allowing more young Americans to experience Chinese culture in person would be beneficial for both countries.

"I think that's really cool to have the opportunity to connect with those cultures. And I really do like that idea. I think it's a great idea to invite us to China. It's great," said a student.

"I feel like the culture. I feel like getting the opportunity to immerse yourself in different cultures is really important," said another student.

"There's definitely value in traveling to other places and learning other cultures. So I think that it can be beneficial," said another one.

Even beyond cultural exchange, the students expressed their beliefs that American youth could learn a lot from Chinese society.

"I think, for me personally, it's the scale, with how many people live in China. I would definitely be interested in seeing how that functions, especially in those larger cities," said a student.

"I think I would like to know what their people are like. What are their thoughts on the world? On what the world should be like?" one student said.

"I think China's amazing. They're so far ahead. We're supposed to be the Western world, but I feel like they're so much more advanced than us in so many ways. I know AI and medicine are big things right now, and I think China has made huge advancements in that. So probably that," said a student.

The students also hope that the program will help strengthen China-U.S. relationship, promote educational exchanges, and broaden the horizons of those who take part.

"It's better for both countries to be connected and to build a better relationship over the coming years. And I think that's important to global peace and prosperity," said a student.

"I think it's really a great thing. I think different cultures, combining different cultures, and education is such a global thing, and having different students come all over the place and take classes here and there," said another student.

"There's a lot more to this world than what's right in front of us. And there's a lot to learn from different ways of seeing things around the world. So I think it could be valuable from that standpoint," a student said.

US students share views on China's plan to invite 100,000 young people for study, exchange