Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

A SPECTACULAR 12,000-drone show celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) captivated the global audience Tuesday.

Shenzhen Daily streamed the event live on its YouTube (@Shenzhen Daily) and X (@szdaily1) channels.

Sudan’s Sinopanorama.net, a niche website focused on China-Sudan relations, reposted Shenzhen Daily’s story — “12,000 drones, light show illuminate SZ for 45th anniversary” —  along with a translation in Arabic for its readers. Abdelwahab Guma Mohamed Naiem, editor-in-chief of Sinopanorama.net, sent his congratulations, “Happy 45th birthday to SZ SEZ.”

BRICS Africa Channel in South Africa distributed Shenzhen Daily videos via its streaming app, FreeVision Play, as well as on its YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook channels, bringing the spectacle to viewers thousands of kilometers away.

Melissa Hollow, media manager for BRICS Africa Channel in South Africa, told Shenzhen Daily, “It is so amazing to watch the video.”

The event drew local expats to watch in person. Some shared the spectacle online to spread the celebration to every corner of the world.

Aaron Lutze, an American YouTuber, made a trip to Lianhua Hill Park to watch the show during his second visit to the city.

“Seeing 12,000 drones in the sky at once was absolutely incredible,” he said. Capturing the moment with a camera from Shenzhen-based DJI, Lutze shared that he plans to bring a DJI drone home as a souvenir of this high-tech marvel.

Famous Dutch YouTuber Sander Kole, who grew up in Shenzhen and calls himself a “Shenzhener Forever,” returned Monday specifically for the occasion. “There are no words to describe it. To see all these drones moving at one time, I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Kole told Shenzhen Daily at Shenzhen Talent Park. “It’s so beautiful to see Shenzhen grow so much every time I come back.”

Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky was particularly moved during the show, opening his arms to the sky with excitement upon seeing his own artwork displayed by the drones. “Being a foreigner, to collaborate with a beautiful city like this obviously is very special,” said Klibansky. “They see something special in my work. Gratitude is the right word.”

The event also resonated online. Russian vlogger Maxim Sotnikov posted his on-site footage of the  show on his Instagram (@masenshen), where it has garnered over 16,000 views. The post has received comments from Russians wishing the SEZ a happy birthday, with many netizens saying it “opened a new world” for them.

After Brazilian content creator Cyntia Midori Yamauchi posted the drone show video on her Instagram (@cymyemidori), her comment section filled with praise for Shenzhen’s incredible growth and possibilities demonstrated over 45 years.

Posts by Turkish social media influencer Ugur Kayan (@shenzhenexpat) about the drone show attracted over 10,000 views, sparking lively discussions about whether Shenzhen would be an ideal travel destination.