On the evening of August 30, the night sky over Chongqing was illuminated by a grand technological and artistic spectacle co-created by the public. The “Charm of Chongqing · Magical Light Night” drone performance used the sky as a canvas and light as a brush, adopting for the first time an interactive model where “the public voted to decide the content of the show,” allowing citizens to become the “artists” of the night sky canvas.

Through public voting, multiple award-winning works made a stunning return: images of cute cats and dogs, Sichuan opera face-changing with fire-spitting, and the rotating light shadow of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin blossomed in the night sky one after another. Among them, Sichuan opera “face-changing” was realized through drone formations, showcasing changing masks and fire-spitting effects, dramatically recreating the unique skills of Sichuan opera; the drones reconstructed the gleaming Big Dipper, and as the scene flowed, it seemed as if an elderly person could be seen gently waving a palm-leaf fan, telling stories of the stars and distant places to children gathered around; the performance also integrated books, stars, and the path of learning into the sky, conveying good wishes for students’ future prospects.

Sichuan opera face-changing

Sichuan opera face-changing, or “bian lian,” is a unique Chinese cultural performance art where performers rapidly change colorful masks to express emotions and narrative. Its history dates back several centuries, originating as a secret technique passed down within families to protect performers from evil spirits and express hidden emotions. This mesmerizing skill remains a protected intangible cultural heritage and a major highlight of traditional Sichuan opera.

Thousand-Hand Guanyin

The Thousand-Hand Guanyin is a major icon in East Asian Buddhism, representing the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. This form, which depicts the deity with multiple arms and eyes, symbolizes the boundless capacity to perceive suffering and offer aid to all beings. Its artistic and religious significance is profoundly displayed in ancient statues and performances, most famously in a modern dance by China’s Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe.

Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is not a physical place but an asterism formed by the seven brightest stars of the constellation Ursa Major. It has served as a crucial navigational guide for countless cultures throughout history and features prominently in the mythology of various civilizations, from Native American tribes to ancient Greece.

palm-leaf fan

The palm-leaf fan is a traditional hand-held cooling device found across tropical and subtropical cultures, made by weaving the leaves of various palm species. Its history spans millennia, with evidence of its use in ancient civilizations from Egypt to China, serving as a common and accessible tool for creating a breeze. It remains an iconic symbol of simple, natural craftsmanship and respite from the heat.