A total of 22,580 drones illuminated the night sky over Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, during the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, creating a breathtaking fusion of tradition and cutting-edge technology.
At the Hefei branch venue, a massive fleet of GD4.0 formation drones operated by EHang’s subsidiary, EHang Egret, rose above the main stage. The drones formed intricate 3D animations, including a futuristic “sky city” and the iconic horse-head walls of Hui-style architecture. The spectacle set a new Guinness World Record for the “most multirotor/drones airborne simultaneously from a single computer.”
Through synchronized light choreography integrated seamlessly with stage design, the drones transformed the sky into an immersive aerial theater. The performance blended technology and culture, amplifying the joyous and harmonious spirit of the Spring Festival while delivering a stunning visual experience to audiences worldwide.
Ahead of the record-setting attempt, EHang Egret conducted multiple large-scale rehearsals at Hefei Luogang Park with over 20,000 drones, demonstrating the GD4.0 system’s reliability in complex environments and its strengths in high-precision positioning and intelligent coordination.
After completing the performance, all 22,580 drones descended simultaneously, a maneuver that many online viewers described as resembling “a galaxy falling to Earth.”
Hefei Luogang Park, a multifunctional hub for low-altitude economy development, hosts two Urban Air Mobility centers supporting eVTOL services. Since March 2025, following the issuance of one of China’s first pilotless human-carrying eVTOL Air Operator Certificates, regular EH216-S trial operations have been conducted there, underscoring Hefei’s rise as a leading innovation hub.
Sources: FaceBook; LinkedIn; YouTube