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
