One second of brilliance, millions captivated — Liuyang fireworks are once again taking the internet by storm.

During this year’s May Day holiday, Liuyang in Hunan Province staged fireworks shows on two consecutive nights, attracting nearly 480,000 visitors. Social media quickly lit up with reactions like:

“Have Liuyang fireworks evolved to this level already?”
“Liuyang fireworks are basically magic now.”

In the night sky, the iconic “Seven-Colored Clouds” fireworks bloomed brilliantly, while thousands of drones formed a glowing “Stargate” above the audience. Fireworks cascaded like a river of stars, and drone-and-fireworks choreography created castles, moons, stars, and other dreamlike landscapes.

Known as the “Hometown of Chinese Fireworks,” Liuyang is China’s largest fireworks production and sales hub. Today, the city is home to 431 fireworks manufacturers. In 2024, the industry generated over 50.22 billion yuan in output value, accounting for around 60% of China’s domestic market and nearly 70% of national exports.

Under High U.S. Tariffs, Who Feels the Pressure More?

In 2024, Liuyang’s fireworks exports reached 6.58 billion yuan, up 24.9% year-on-year. The U.S. market alone accounts for roughly 35% of exports.

However, as the United States imposed steep tariffs, some American distributors began suspending shipments due to rising costs and uncertainty.

Industry insiders point out that the U.S. does not manufacture fireworks domestically, with 95% of imported fireworks coming from China. The American Pyrotechnics Association has also publicly called for tariff exemptions, noting that the U.S. lacks the raw materials and supply chain needed to build a domestic fireworks industry.

At the same time, Liuyang is accelerating diversification into Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and other emerging markets.

“Fireworks + Tourism” Creates New Consumption Scenarios

In Liuyang, fireworks are no longer just holiday decorations — they have become a defining symbol of the city’s cultural tourism economy.

Since launching regular weekend fireworks shows in 2023, Liuyang has hosted nearly 100 performances, attracting over 5 million visitors and generating more than 15 billion yuan in tourism-related consumption.

Creative fireworks effects such as “Blue Meteor Shower” and “Seven-Colored Clouds” have gone viral across social media, driving both tourism and fireworks product sales.

The boom has also boosted restaurants, hotels, cultural souvenirs, and local attractions. More and more travelers are adding “watching fireworks in Liuyang” to their travel bucket lists.

Safety, Sustainability, and Innovation

Behind the dazzling spectacles lies Liuyang’s continuous industrial transformation.

Safer Manufacturing

Liuyang is rapidly advancing toward automated and intelligent fireworks manufacturing. AI vision systems, robotic arms, infrared monitoring, and automated warning systems are now widely used across factories, significantly improving production safety and efficiency.

Greener Fireworks

In recent years, Liuyang companies have been developing low-smoke, sulfur-free, and environmentally friendly fireworks products.

New technologies — including plant-fiber shells, gas-propelled fireworks, and eco-friendly pyrotechnic materials — are helping reduce smoke and pollution while preserving the beauty of fireworks displays.

Technology Meets Fireworks

Today’s Liuyang fireworks are far more than traditional sound-and-light displays.

Drones, projection mapping, lighting effects, music, and multimedia storytelling are now deeply integrated into fireworks performances, transforming the night sky into an immersive artistic stage.

Liuyang is also exploring “urban fireworks” — quieter, safer, and more controllable fireworks products designed for modern city environments.

A Fireworks Experiment for the Future

From traditional manufacturing to creative industries, from holiday celebrations to nighttime tourism, Liuyang is continuously reinventing the fireworks business.

The city is not only lighting up the sky, but also igniting new economic vitality, cultural creativity, and global attention.

Liuyang is writing its own dazzling story of the “night economy” — one firework at a time.