The Spring Festival Gala is one of China’s most-watched television events, a cherished tradition that brings families together. As millions gather to celebrate the Lunar New Year, this spectacular show becomes one of the key events of the celebration. This show fills homes with music, entertainment, and spectacular performances. But in 2025, it wasn’t just about tradition or culture or limited entertainment. It was a stupendous display of advanced technologies that left the world in awe. From dancing humanoid robots and massive drone, light shows to a futuristic flying car, the gala showcased China’s technological advancements like never before.
Let’s dive into the highlights of this spectacle that blended innovation with art in the most intriguing way.
Dancing Robots Steal the Show
China celebrated the Lunar festival this year like never before. Rather than calling this festival a Cultural New Year, maybe it is better to address it as a Technological New Year for China. China celebrates the Lunar New Year with music, dancing robots, and breathtaking performances of humanoid robots along with humans.
One of the most talked-about performances of this Lunar New Year night is directed by the legendary Zhang Yimou. Known for his grand and visually stunning productions, Zhang outdid himself by featuring 16 humanoid robots alongside human dancers from the Xinjiang Art Institute,
Developed by Unitree, these humanoid robots were not just moving, they were dancing. Dressed in floral padded jackets, a common festive dressing in northern China, they blended seamlessly with human performers. These robots mimicked traditional Chinese dance moves with an incredible level of precision.
What made these robots stand out?
- They used AI-driven full-body motion control technology to move with fluidity.
- Their joints could produce a maximum torque of 360 Newton meters, making them powerful yet graceful.
- Equipped with 360° panoramic depth perception, they could sense and respond to their environment in real-time.
- Their advanced AI allowed them to “listen” to music and adjust their movements to match the beat perfectly.
This was more than just a performance and was a glimpse into a future where robots could participate in human activities in a way that felt completely natural.
A Sky Full of Drones
While the robots wowed audiences on stage, the night sky became a canvas for a spectacular drone performance. The Shenzhen-based DAMODA Intelligent Control Technology Co. lit up the sky with a breathtaking display at two of the gala’s sub-venues:
- 3,000 drones took flight in Chongqing.
- 2,500 drones created stunning patterns over Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu Province.
The precision of the show was mind-blowing. Despite challenges like weather, wind speed, and signal interference, the drone operation team ensured a 100% on-time takeoff and landing. Each drone moved in perfect harmony, creating intricate images that told stories through lights and motion reported GT.
This performance was DAMODA’s sixth time at the Spring Festival Gala, and each year, their drone technology only gets better. This time, it felt like the sky itself was dancing.
The Future of Flying Transportation: eVTOL Takes Off
Perhaps the most futuristic moment of the festival night was when a 2-ton eVTOL aircraft soared above the Chongqing venue. The aircraft, named “CarryAll” V2000CG, was developed by AutoFlight, a Chinese company specializing in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology.
What makes this aircraft special?
- It can take off and land vertically, making it perfect for urban transportation.
- It has the potential to reduce travel time significantly. For example, a 20-minute car ride in Chongqing could be cut down to just 2 minutes by using an eVTOL aircraft.
Chongqing was the ideal place for this demonstration because of its complex terrain and numerous bridges. As one of China’s six trial cities for the low-altitude economy, Chongqing is actively exploring the use of eVTOLs for transportation. This event showed the world that flying taxis are closer to reality than we think.
A Celebration of Innovation and Culture
The 2025 Spring Festival Gala was more than just entertainment and it was a statement of advanced technologies. It showed how China is leading the way in robotics, AI, drone technology, and urban air mobility. By seamlessly blending these innovations with cultural performances, the gala sent a clear message: The future is here, and it’s spectacular.
Whether it was robots dancing in perfect harmony, thousands of drones painting the night sky, or a futuristic aircraft soaring above the city, each performance was a limitless possibility of technology.
This year’s gala set a new standard for performances. It’s only a matter of time before robots become a regular part of artistic performances and drone shows replace traditional fireworks.
