A breathtaking drone light show to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year was staged in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday evening, creating unforgettable experiences for many revelers.
As night fell, all eyes turned skyward as 2,026 drones lit up the sky over the iconic Victoria Harbor for a spectacular farewell to the old year and welcome to the new. Themed "Galloping into the Spring," the drone show combined modern aerial choreography with classical Chinese motifs.
The performance opened with a radiant golden Chinese character for "horse", followed by vivid scenes of galloping horses, bursting fireworks, glowing festive lanterns, and iconic landmarks, including Lion Rock, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Bauhinia sculpture of the HKSAR.
The display symbolized not only the dynamism and resilience of Hong Kong, but also the city's integration into the country's broader development, galloping forward toward a brighter future.
The fusion of traditional New Year imagery and cutting-edge technology drew waves of applause and awe-struck viewers, many stopping to take photos and videos of the luminous spectacle.
Drone light show marking upcoming Chinese New Year staged in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's first astronaut lifted off into space on Sunday, sparking a wave of enthusiasm for space exploration in the special administrative region, while inspiring a new generation to look to the stars.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 23:08 (Beijing Time) on Sunday. The crew members include Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut and payload specialist from Hong Kong to join a national space mission, whose achievements have motivated many Hong Kong residents.
"I feel so happy and thrilled. This is the first time a Hong Kong astronaut has gone to space, and to see a true Hong Konger, who is also a mother of three, just really touches my heart," said Chow, a local resident.
The successful spaceflight of Lai has especially captivated the younger generation to dream bigger about the future.
"I want to be an astronaut, because I want to discover more things about space," said a young student surnamed Chow.
"I have seen things related to spaceflights of astronauts. I hope when I grow up, I could receive training and go to space myself," said another student surnamed Koo.
To meet public expectations, the Hong Kong Space Museum has updated its space-themed exhibition with the latest development of the Shenzhou-23 mission, extending the display until July 6. Parents are seizing the moment to enrich their children's knowledge.
"At his age, I want him to be exposed to a wide range of information. With all the recent astronaut news, I brought him here specially to see for himself. We will also check out a film about space knowledge at the planetarium. I hope he can get more out of this from an early age," said Cheung, a father.
"We just watched the Shenzhou-23 launch at home with my son last night, and decided to take him to the Space Museum," a mother surnamed Chun shared.
"I saw on TV that so many people were cheering for the launch. When the rocket was launched, fire burst out from its body. I was really happy they succeeded," said Chun's son.
Hong Kong's first astronaut ignites citywide enthusiasm over space exploration
