A Thousand Drones: Weaving Heritage with Digital Light

During the May Day holiday, 1,000 drones illuminated the night sky above Yongning River, transforming it into a dynamic canvas where Huangyan’s millennia-old intangible heritage merged seamlessly with digital innovation.

Kicking off with "Tangerine Charm," amber-lit drones rippled like golden waves, recreating the region’s iconic citrus groves—a vivid tribute to Huangyan’s title as China’s "Hometown of Honey Tangerines." Precision lighting then conjured the ethereal "Tangerine Deity," its robes billowing as if stirred by the breath of history.

The drone fleet reorganized to spotlight cultural treasures: rustic Ningxi Zaozhuang Wine Jars symbolized time-honored brewing traditions; intricate Fanhuang Bamboo Carvings showcased artisanal finesse; and Southern Taiji Moves flowed in kinetic harmony. Overhead, the Five-Arch Bridge materialized in celestial grandeur, its ancient silhouette spanning the starry expanse.

Between scenes, digital wizardry unfolded—a phoenix’s iridescent wings shimmered briefly before dissolving into steam rising from lifelike wine vessels, blurring the boundaries between past and present. Spectators, phones in hand, marveled at how technology amplified tradition, capturing every fusion of antiquity and innovation.

"Beyond words!" exclaimed Wang Junyue, an Anhui native who has lived in Huangyan for two years. "This isn’t just a show—it’s a cultural renaissance. The symbolism of tangerines, the artistry of bamboo carvings, even stilt-walking traditions... technology has breathed new life into them."

More than a holiday spectacle, the event embodied Huangyan’s innovative heritage strategy. By translating centuries of citrus cultivation, distilling techniques, and architectural legacy into drone choreography, ancient narratives found fresh resonance. It demonstrated how digital art can reinterpret cultural DNA, ensuring intangible heritage not only endures but thrives in the technological age.