Renowned Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, celebrated worldwide for his mesmerizing pyrotechnic artworks, announced in a recently published article that he will light up the skies of hometown of Quanzhou once again this December. 

Known for his memorable spectacle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony, Cai has since continued to push the boundaries of art by using gunpowder as a medium — evolving his craft into a form of cultural storytelling. In recent years, he has turned his focus back to his hometown of Quanzhou, aiming to create firework shows that evoke local heritage and reflect on his childhood memories.

Following a Quanzhou Cultural and Tourism Development Headquarters meeting on November 8, rumors have been swirling about the upcoming show’s exact date. In 2023, Cai’s show in Quanzhou was staged on December 8 — marking this as a potential date for this year’s event as well.

Cai’s recent projects have often celebrated underrepresented voices and stories. In this case, Cai has stated the upcoming firework performance will honor the women of Quanzhou. While further details of the tribute remain under wraps, some social media users have speculated that Cao may pay tribute to the women of Xunpu (a fishing village near Quanzhou), who are known for their unique floral headpieces. 

With Chinese New Year just around the corner in January 2025, it’s also possible that the event will reference aspects of the traditional holiday.

Cai’s dedication to his hometown runs deep, and he has plans to open an art museum, the Quanzhou Museum of Contemporary Art (QMoCA), there in the future, hoping to make it into a creative hub and destination for art lovers worldwide. His firework show last December served as both a cornerstone ceremony for the new Frank Gehry-designed museum and a tribute to modernist Chinese thinker Hong Yi (born Li Shutong), who was a formative early influence for the artist. 

As we wait for the official date to be announced, one thing is certain: this December, the skies of Quanzhou will become a canvas for one of China’s most celebrated contemporary artists — bridging the past and the present with vibrant and polychromatic bursts of light.

Banner image via Cai Studio. Image shows Cai’s 2023 Quanzhou performance, Mirage.