Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, southwest China - May 20, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Drone cluster taking off simultaneously
2. Various of drones showing pattern of 28 constellations of East
3. Various of drones showing pattern of floating islands
4. Various of drones showing pattern of giant pandas
5. Encouraging words, pattern projected by drones

China's drone technology entered a new era as 33,000-plus drones performed a record-breaking light show in Dujiangyan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, setting Guinness World Records for the largest simultaneous drone flight and the largest aerial pattern.

The show featured five chapters blending technology, culture and city renewal. Official certification confirmed breakthroughs in scale, design and aerial display, marking the first time all three elements were achieved together.

In the opening chapter, 33,615 drones demonstrated a display featuring the 28 constellations of the East, echoing Dujiangyan's ancient water-management philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature. Later chapters showcased cultural icons such as giant pandas and floating islands, highlighting the city's heritage and modern vitality.

The city is renowned for its ancient irrigation system, a dam-free water diversion project built in 256 BC. It is the world's oldest and only remaining grand water conservancy project, having withstood floods and earthquakes for more than two millennia, and is still in use today.

A "fish-mouth" shaped weir splits the Minjiang River into an inner channel for irrigation and an outer channel for discharge of flood water.

Dujiangyan Irrigation System was listed as a World Culture Heritage Site by the World Heritage Center, UNESCO in November 2000 and was listed and Drainage as a World Irrigation Engineering Heritage by International Commission on Irrigation in August 2018.