The 2025 aviation open day of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and the Changchun Air Show ended on Tuesday, capping the five-day show with record attendance while igniting nationwide enthusiasm for the aviation undertaking.
Held in the provincial capital of Jilin in northeast China, the event drew hundreds of thousands of visitors to dazzling aerial displays, cutting-edge military hardware, and immersive aviation experiences.
Over the five-day run, attendance surpassed 800,000, marking the highest turnout in the event's history since its inception in 2011.
"The visit was absolutely rewarding. I'll definitely come back next time. It was simply cool," said a spectator.
"We are from Jining and the visit was really worth the trip. It's about chasing dreams in the blue sky and securing victory for the future," said another spectator.
The event put up a dazzling array of China's most advanced aircraft, including the mighty YY-20A aerial refueling tanker, the versatile J-16 multirole fighter, the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and the J-20 stealth fighter, the undisputed star of the show.
The J-20 not only performed its first-ever joint flight demonstration with the KJ-500, but also made its public debut in static display, allowing visitors to observe it close.
Various heart-stopping performances pushed the event's atmosphere to a climax. The Bayi (August 1) and Lanying (Blue Eagle) parachute teams painted the sky with precision and grace, while the Bayi, Hongying (Red Eagle), and Tianzhiyi (Sky Wings) aerobatic teams carved the air with gravity-defying maneuvers, leaving crowds breathless and cheering.
"The choreography of the aerobatic performance was world-class -- truly international standard," said an aviation enthusiast.
"What impressed me the most was when our big, chubby YY-20A tanker took to the sky, it was truly overwhelming," said another enthusiast.
The event featured 41 aircraft of 16 different types in aerial displays and 93 types of equipment on static ground display. It also opened the aviation culture exhibition center, along with areas for simulated dogfights and parachuting experience.
New and exciting experiences were also offered through dedicated pavilions including the unmanned and intelligent equipment pavilion, low-altitude economy pavilion, and aviation education pavilion.
With record attendance and unmatched performances, the 2025 Changchun Air Show has cemented its status as China's premier public-facing military aviation event.
Changchun Air Show concludes with record-breaking attendance
John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), announced on Friday that an independent committee will have nine months to investigate the Wang Fuk Court fire that occurred in late November.
The fire, which erupted on November 26 in Tai Po, has claimed 160 lives as of 16:00 Tuesday, with six people still reported missing, according to authorities.
At a press conference, Lee said the committee will be led by Judge David Lok, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, and will also include Legislative Council Finance Committee Chairman Chan Kin-por and outgoing MTR Corporation Chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen.
"Nine months is a very challenging time indeed, but I want to solve the problem as quickly as possible. So I want to give what I regard as a time frame -- realistic -- provided the independent committee is given sufficient means to maneuver, while ensuring the examination is just. They can streamline procedure and be given more flexibility so that they can finish their work within the nine months. And I also have given them a reserve power. That is, if the independent committee considers, by examining all these complicated issues, there may be one which they think, by exercising the powers that is given to a statutory commissioner of inquiry, will help them complete their work, then I'm very willing to consider a recommendation by the independent commission to seek appointing them as the commission of inquiry," Lee said.
Lee noted that the committee's investigation will focus on the causes and circumstances of the fire, and whether systemic issues exist in large-scale building management and renovation projects.
The committee will also examine whether the current regulations and penalties are sufficient in these two areas and will make relevant recommendations. The investigation reports are expected to be made public.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, David Lok stressed the need for fairness and impartiality in the investigation, saying that he would refrain from commenting on the investigation until the committee completes its work.
"During this period, I hope everyone understands that although this is a committee, I am leading this work in my capacity as a judge. Judges must also adhere to certain professional principles, including being fair and impartial. We need to conduct rational analysis based on facts before making any factual judgments or recommendations; we cannot be emotional. Furthermore, we cannot have a pre-established position. In fact, before every judge hears a case, we should ideally start with a blank slate and cannot have a predetermined stance," said Lok.
"So today, if you ask me for my views on certain matters or how we will conduct the investigation, I’m afraid I won't be able to answer as freely as I could when I was at the Electoral Affairs Commission. But I hope all media friends and residents understand that I do not wish to evade questions; it is simply that some questions at this stage are inappropriate for the committee chair to answer. Therefore, during the investigation, I do not expect to speak with you again until our work is completed," he said.
Investigation into Tai Po fire to conclude within nine months: HKSAR chief executive
