This May Day holiday, Liuyang truly caught fire—both in the skies and in the spotlight.In the night sky, fireworkscascadedlike a river of stars; in the mountain wilds, azaleas blazed like living fire.Tourists swarmed scenic spots, snapped up every homestay, and savored the region’s signature steamed cuisine. Even China’s national broadcasterCCTVcouldn’t help but shine a spotlight on this spectacular celebration.

According to official statistics, Liuyang recorded a total of 4.0893 million tourist visits during the May Day holiday, reflecting a 52.08% year-on-year increase. Total tourism expenditure reached 3.54 billion yuan, up 28.66% from the previous year. Among them, 13 key scenic areas monitored under Hunan Province’s integrated cultural and tourism data platform received 1.1042 million tourist visits, representing a 75.6% increase, with total spending reaching 57.799 million yuan—a 16.88% rise year-on-year.

Photo by Zhang Weihua

On the nights of May 2nd and 3rd, two immersive fireworks shows were staged at the Sky Theater by Liuyang River. The events attracted a total of 480,000 tourist visits, and for two consecutive days, the performances soared to the top of Changsha’s most sought-after attractions, becoming a major highlight of cultural and tourism celebrations during the May Day holiday. Each show kicked off with a dazzling“Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud”fireworks display, setting the stage for a captivating journey where the theme was“collecting five-colored heart flames to reignite the Fireworks Planet.”The shows unfolded with breathtaking scenes like“Venus: Light of Belief,”“Jupiter: Healing Forest,”“Mercury: Cherished Sea,”“Mars: Summit of Courage,”and“Saturn: City of Dreams.”As a thousand drones illuminated the“Interstellar Gateway,”performers danced in sync with the fireworks, weaving together innovative pyrotechnics and cutting-edge digital technology to craft a truly enchanting“Cosmic Voyage.”

Director Huang Cheng described the show as a groundbreaking departure from traditional stage performances.“In recent years, the fireworks industry has been empowered by cultural creativity, sparking a wave of profound innovation,”Huang said. The advancement of digital ignition technology has made it possible for fireworks to explode with millisecond precision, seamlessly syncing with sound, light, electricity, and multimedia. By merging fireworks with music, dance, and intangible cultural heritage, the experience immerses the audience in a vibrant fireworks planet, allowing them to fully bask in the joy of the holiday.

Photo by Peng Hongxia

The fireworks show also partnered with CCTV News’“Beauty in China: Brilliant Night”live broadcast, attracting over a million online viewers. That evening, CCTV News, together with 15 other media outlets, launched the topic“Liuyang Fireworks: Evolving into a Magical Spectacle,”which quickly captivated netizens across the country. Within just one day, the topic hit over 10 million clicks and soared to the top of Weibo’s national trending list.

“The fireworks exploded right above our heads—it was absolutely breathtaking!”said Ms. Li, a visitor from the Northeast, who brought her daughter to the Sky Theater to watch the fireworks.“I captured the perfect‘life photo’under the fireworks, one of the best memories of my daughter’s childhood.”Another visitor from Wuhan, Zhang Na, remarked,“This isn’t just fireworks; it’s a love letter to the night sky!”Whether inside the Sky Theater or at the outdoor“Sky Camp,”both became an immersive“fireworks theater.”“Our Sky Camp hosted 3,600 visitors from all over the country in just two days, setting a new record,”said a representative from the City Terminal. The specially designated Jincheng Avenue parking lot became a free viewing area, packed with visitors shoulder to shoulder.

As the“City of Ideals”lit up the Sky Theaterarea, hashtags like #Stargate#, #LoveStruck#, and #ColorfulClouds# swept across major social media platforms.“Liuyang Fireworks”quickly soared to the top of Weibo’s trending list, instantly transforming the Sky Theater area into a world-class destination for fireworks-themed cultural performances and tourism.

Photo by Peng Hongxia