GBC Inspects Liuyang, the Fireworks Capital of the World
On 14 June 2025, within the context of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 2025 (#CAETE2025), the Global Business Council (GBC) Chair Mr Aaron Kwang POON visited the city of Liuyang which is known as the ‘Fireworks Capital of the World.’ Indeed, China accounts for 90% of the global fireworks production, while Liuyang on its own accounts for 70% of the global fireworks production.
During the tour, Chairman Poon had a meeting with Tanghua Fireworks GM QIU Chunliang to get a better appreciation of the fireworks industry.Tanghua specializes in pyrotechnical shows and the company undertook the firework displays at most major events such as the Beijing Olympics 2008, the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Repubic of China in 2019, the Singapore Bicentennial in 2019, to name a few.
Nowadays, many pyrotechnics shows also tend to combine fireworks with drones. In addition to using multicolor LED lights on drones, Tanghua has also integrated pyrotechnics into the drone, which can be triggered remotely.
In addition, Tanghua can design and display daytime fireworks spectacles. The main difference between daytime and nightime fireworks lies in the fact that daytime fireworks achieve the artistic effect with polychromatic particles whereas nightime fireworks rely on multi-wavelength photonic emissions.
After the Tanghua pyrotechnic studio, Mr Poon had the opportunity to inspect the Yihelong Group. The company has more than 10 production sites scattered around the city of Liuyang, in the city of Liling, and even in neighboring Jiangxi province. It manufactures a vast array of fireworks and can accept made-to-measure orders of pyrotechnic products.
In order to enter a particular market, the product must follow the rigorous standards of the destination country, and that is even more so for fireworks which have to meet a high-level of safety and quality. For instance, fireworks destined for Europe typically have the CE mark.
As far as possible, the company utilizes environmentally-friendly materials such as bamboo and recycled paper. According to some studies, the pollution generated by fireworks pales in comparison to the emissions from combustion engine vehicles running on the roads.
In order to remain in tune with the times, the company has a R&D lab which experiments with new compounds and materials to achieve a certain esthetic effect. Based on available data, the pyrotechnic products made in Liuyang are exported to more than 100 countries around the world, and Africa represents a signifiant emerging market.