Every Saturday night, thousands of people gather in the Chinese province of Hunan to gaze at magnificent fireworks - a generations-old tradition.
Last Friday, on October 17, 2025, the people of Liuyang saw the spectacle with a modern twist: nearly 16,000 drones rose into the night sky, their LEDs outshining any sparkler and forming an eye catching aerial canvas.
It was part of the festival’s sub-activities, two events showcased an extraordinary synchronization between fireworks and drone formations.
The show lasted for 20 minutes and has captivated audiences globally through its majestic display of modern technique and technology.
The Guinness World Records has confirmed the feat: 15,947 drones airborne simultaneously, all controlled by one computer.
The drones launched in waves, buzzing faintly in the distance like a cloud of beetles before locking into precise formations.
The drones went off in waves; the first formation was a display of big trees, their branches extending to the sky with leaves flickering vivid green and gold.
Next in line was the spectacular display of flowers, their petals gently spreading and each made up of hundreds of sparkling spots.
Mid-show fireworks erupted in sync with 7,496 drones, each releasing silent pulses of light in perfect harmony with those below.
The new record for the most UAVs airborne at the same time, with 15,974 drones skyward has surpassed the previous record of 10,197 UAVs.
