Creative fireworks boost night tourism in China's 'fireworks capital'

Liuyang, a small city known as China's fireworks capital, now draws crowds every Saturday evening with regular creative fireworks shows above the Liuyang River – its most popular attraction in recent years.

Each weekend show is well-planned, with different themes and styles. Some highlight Liuyang's nature and culture; others mix trendy elements like traditional Chinese designs, virtual characters or hit TV and film scenes to create immersive experiences. These shows have attracted many tourists, thus growing local rural tourism, and filling restaurants and hotels in the area. Liuyang even won the title of "National Demonstration Zone for Cultural-Tourism Integration."

Since 2023, the weekend fireworks have attracted over 6 million visitors and driven more than 18 billion yuan (around $2.5 billion) in spending.

The shows set a good example for other places looking to mix culture and tourism. They also make Liuyang a leader in China's fireworks innovation. Most recently, Liuyang's fireworks wowed the world at the Paris Olympics, thanks to tech that suited the global sports event's needs perfectly.