HONG KONG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As more than 30,000 shells soared from barges over the Victoria Harbor on Wednesday night, the sky of Hong Kong was transformed into a luminous canvas, with rippling reflections of the fireworks on the water seamlessly merging with the glittering city skyline.
The fireworks show, a much-anticipated event among Hong Kong residents and tourists, has been a highlight of Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebrations. The man behind the spectacle is Wilson Mao, a 64-year-old fireworks designer whose team has orchestrated most major fireworks shows over the iconic harbor since 1998.
"Victoria Harbor is the most unique stage, where fireworks can blossom against the backdrop of the city skyline," he said.
Mao excelled in leveraging the harbor's geography, using barges, pontoons and even buildings on both shores to create immersive shows. While the burst of fireworks may be fleeting, the show's preparation spans months.
"With three barges and six pontoons this year, the installation process itself was rather complex. We also had to account for weather changes and conduct tests to ensure absolute reliability," Mao said, adding that it took about three months to prepare for this year's show.
Mao comes from a family that has shaped Hong Kong's night sky for decades. His grandfather, a Malaysian-Chinese merchant, started the fireworks export business in the 1950s. His father was the first Chinese who pioneered large-scale fireworks shows in Hong Kong.
Mao himself joined the family trade in 1989 and founded his own fireworks production company five years later. A pivotal moment in his career came in 1997, when his team created a 1,177-meter-long waterfall of fireworks cascading down the newly opened Tsing Ma Bridge, a sight that left a lasting impression on many Hong Kong residents.
At the time, no one in Hong Kong had staged a waterfall fireworks display on that scale, and the team couldn't even find a suitable testing site, Mou recalled.
The one-minute waterfall fireworks on that night lit up not only the city's sky, but also his belief that Hong Kong-designed fireworks could reach global audiences.
Over the years, his team has competed internationally, earning multiple awards and demonstrating how fireworks can serve as a medium for cross-cultural exchange.
Looking ahead, Mao plans to enter more contests with designs featuring elements from Hong Kong's newest landmarks, while also exploring new formats and technologies like drones. For the city's residents and visitors, fireworks shows at the harbor will continue to offer fresh surprises. ■
