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
