Chinese fireworks choreographer dreams of spreading joy, splendor around world

Huang Cheng, a Chinese pyrotechnic artist, is using creative firework displays to entertain spectators from around the world.

Liuyang, a small county-level city in central China's Hunan Province, has long been at the heart of the global fireworks industry. Its fireworks account for 70 percent of China's total exports, securing its dominant position in the global market.

Many visitors to the small city have traveled from afar to see grand fireworks shows. Behind the sublime displays are teams of pyrotechnic artists like Huang, who uses storyboards, a stopwatch and other tools to orchestrate celestial spectacles.

As a young, successful fireworks show director, Huang leads a team of skilled professionals to put together firework spectacles that light up smiles on thousands of faces every time. He is proud of his art, which combines China's intangible cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology.

"I [have been] to many countries. I really feel that China [is] the hometown of fireworks in the world," the fireworks show director said.

Many who have seen Huang's shows say it was the most impressive they have ever seen. Every show is carefully orchestrated, with every detail coming together to capture the audience.

"Usually we'll consider the emotion of the audience, the music and many, many things together, [to] let the audience understand our design," said Huang.

Over the years Huang has staged shows in many countries across the globe. To him, being able to bring joy to so many people with fireworks is the biggest reward.

"I feel very proud as a Chinese that I can use my skills to let other people all over the world see beautiful things and feel happy. I always say, fireworks are the happiest things in the world. It can bloom in the mountains, it can bloom [over] the river, it can bloom everywhere in the world. [Some] use this powder to fight [in wars], but [in] China, we use this powder to make all the world happy. So I feel very proud," he said.

Chinese fireworks choreographer dreams of spreading joy, splendor around world

The United States cannot legitimize an operation that attacked Venezuela and captured its president, a Chinese scholar said Sunday.

On Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were 'captured and flown out of Venezuela' according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Teng Jianqun, director of the Center for Diplomatic Studies at Hunan Normal University, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the aim of this operation is to take full control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

"I don't think the United States can legitimize this operation to take custody of the president of Venezuela. And also I don't think the United States can legitimize its any action in taking the oil reserves of that country. This is actually a very dangerous game played by the Trump administration. And of course, the United States would like to take full control of that country and to take full control of the natural resources, especially the large reserve of oil in Venezuela," said Teng.

Teng said Venezuela is not an isolated case but a common practice by the United States. The United States launched an invasion of Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, which continued until January 1990, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega on charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.

"We still remember the so-called sentence of the former president of Panama in the late 1980s. And this time, the president of Venezuela will be under some judicial condition (judicial proceedings) for the so-called drug trafficking and some other crimes. So I think this is not a single case for the Venezuela country, but also this is actually a practice by the United States -- to use force, to use so-called justice under law against any leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean waters," he said.

US cannot legitimize operation against Venezuela: Chinese scholar