(Si City, 2nd) On the night of December 31, 2025, the ancient capital Nanjing transformed into a sea of joy. At the 'Light of Jinling' main New Year’s Eve event near Xuanwu Lake, over a hundred thousand citizens and tourists gathered together to welcome the arrival of 2026. This New Year’s Eve gala, organized by the Nanjing Municipal Government under the theme of “Innovative City, Beautiful Ancient Capital,” blended traditional culture with modern technology to present a spectacular audio-visual feast.
At exactly 8:00 PM, the gala opened with a stunning drone show. 1,500 drones formed words such as “2026” and “Hello Nanjing” in the night sky, then transformed into images of Nanjing landmarks like the City Wall, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and Yangtze River Bridge, finally converging into a soaring dove of peace, symbolizing best wishes for peace and prosperity in the new year.
Following this were performances rich in Nanjing characteristics. Dancers from Nanjing University of the Arts, dressed in modernized Yun brocade costumes, performed a dance entitled “Twelve Hours of Jinling,” cleverly combining the bustling life of ancient Jinling with the urban rhythm of modern Nanjing. The cross-genre collaboration “Song of the Yangtze” between a renowned erhu musician and an electronic music artist created an unexpected spark between traditional folk music and electronic beats.
When only ten minutes remained before the new year, the Mayor of Nanjing appeared at the center of the main venue through holographic projection technology, extending New Year’s greetings to all Nanjing residents and every domestic and international guest in Nanjing. In the final ten seconds of the countdown, the giant screen at the main venue began counting down, with all the audience shouting in unison. When the “0” appeared, a fifteen-minute fireworks display lit up the sky over Xuanwu Lake. At the same time, fireworks were simultaneously set off at eight other sub-venues including the Qinhuai River, Xinjiekou, and Hexi New Town, making the entire night sky over Nanjing dazzling and breathtaking.
Amid the bustling crowd, Ms. Wu Minna, a renowned tutor from Embrace Dancing Studio in the capital region of Brunei, made a special trip to experience the New Year’s Eve atmosphere in Nanjing.
“It’s absolutely stunning!” said Ms. Wu Minna excitedly, “Nanjing’s New Year’s event is steeped in rich cultural heritage while brimming with modern vitality. I was especially moved by the city wall patterns in the drone display — a true homage to history and tradition.”
Ms. Wu Minna shared the grand event with her friends and family in Brunei through her phone. After the chimes at midnight, she sent her transoceanic greetings through the camera: “Greetings to everyone from Nanjing, China! I’ve just experienced an unforgettable New Year’s moment, and I hope this joy and warmth will travel across mountains and seas to Brunei. Wishing my family, friends, and all the students at the studio a healthy, happy, and ever-broadening dance journey through 2026!”
Ms. Wu Minna said that this trip to Nanjing not only enhanced her dance expertise but also allowed her to experience first-hand the dynamism and openness of Chinese cities. “Art knows no borders, and dance is a language shared by all humanity. I will bring what I saw and felt in Nanjing back to Brunei and incorporate it into my teaching, so that more Bruneians can learn about China’s cultural arts.”
At exactly 8:00 PM, the gala opened with a stunning drone show. 1,500 drones formed words such as “2026” and “Hello Nanjing” in the night sky, then transformed into images of Nanjing landmarks like the City Wall, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and Yangtze River Bridge, finally converging into a soaring dove of peace, symbolizing best wishes for peace and prosperity in the new year.
When only ten minutes remained before the new year, the Mayor of Nanjing appeared at the center of the main venue through holographic projection technology, extending New Year’s greetings to all Nanjing residents and every domestic and international guest in Nanjing. In the final ten seconds of the countdown, the giant screen at the main venue began counting down, with all the audience shouting in unison. When the “0” appeared, a fifteen-minute fireworks display lit up the sky over Xuanwu Lake. At the same time, fireworks were simultaneously set off at eight other sub-venues including the Qinhuai River, Xinjiekou, and Hexi New Town, making the entire night sky over Nanjing dazzling and breathtaking.
Amid the bustling crowd, Ms. Wu Minna, a renowned tutor from Embrace Dancing Studio in the capital region of Brunei, made a special trip to experience the New Year’s Eve atmosphere in Nanjing.
“It’s absolutely stunning!” said Ms. Wu Minna excitedly, “Nanjing’s New Year’s event is steeped in rich cultural heritage while brimming with modern vitality. I was especially moved by the city wall patterns in the drone display — a true homage to history and tradition.”
Ms. Wu Minna shared the grand event with her friends and family in Brunei through her phone. After the chimes at midnight, she sent her transoceanic greetings through the camera: “Greetings to everyone from Nanjing, China! I’ve just experienced an unforgettable New Year’s moment, and I hope this joy and warmth will travel across mountains and seas to Brunei. Wishing my family, friends, and all the students at the studio a healthy, happy, and ever-broadening dance journey through 2026!”
Ms. Wu Minna said that this trip to Nanjing not only enhanced her dance expertise but also allowed her to experience first-hand the dynamism and openness of Chinese cities. “Art knows no borders, and dance is a language shared by all humanity. I will bring what I saw and felt in Nanjing back to Brunei and incorporate it into my teaching, so that more Bruneians can learn about China’s cultural arts.”