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China's Fireworks Go High-Tech: From Boom to Drones
11 Mar
Summary
- Liuyang's fireworks output value surpassed 50 billion yuan in 2025.
- Drone technology was developed to overcome pandemic-related demand collapse.
- Environmental innovations reduced fireworks residue by approximately 80 percent.
The Chinese fireworks industry, particularly in Liuyang, Hunan province, is rapidly evolving beyond its traditional export model. Zhang Yang, general manager of Liuyang Intently Fireworks Display Co Ltd, spearheaded a significant shift, transforming the company from a manufacturer to a creative performance and technology exporter.
In 2014, Intently began participating in international cultural events, showcasing original intellectual property and creative control. This experience solidified Zhang's belief that the future lay in creative storytelling rather than production volume. The company repositioned itself to focus on performance and creative production.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, facing a halt in tourism-related displays, Intently pivoted to developing heavy-payload drones for launching fireworks. This two-year endeavor required rebuilding from scratch, re-engineering structures, ignition systems, and materials for industrial drones.
In 2025, Intently won the Liuyang Fireworks Competition with its drone system. Six months later, the company set a Guinness World Record for launching over 7,900 simultaneous drone-mounted fireworks. Environmental innovations, including refined propellants and sulfur-free formulations, reduced residue by about 80 percent.
Zhang views fireworks as precise technology, not just pollution. The market now seeks emotional resonance over mere visual beauty. Intently's experimental fireworks drama "White Moon and Brahma Star" exemplified this, combining drone displays with narrative choreography, attracting audiences with storytelling.
Liuyang's broader economy also benefits from this transformation. The city's "fireworks plus tourism" strategy has drawn over 7 million visitors since 2023, generating more than 20 billion yuan in local consumption. Intently shares its drone technology, fostering an ecosystem of openness and collaboration.
In 2025, Intently's drone fireworks expanded to Ethiopia, signifying a shift towards exporting complete Chinese stories and technology. The company also revived ancient Song Dynasty fireworks forms, blending tradition with modern engineering, creating a dialogue across time.
