2018 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea Hot Air Balloon "Liya Upstream City"
Sky Flying Month Event Concludes Successfully
On December 6, the 2018 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea Hot Air Balloon "Liya Upstream City" Sky Flying Month Event concluded in Changning County, Sichuan Province. It is reported that this event was a new attempt by the Changning County Government in collaboration with Shizhi Sports in the field of low-altitude tourism. Lasting for two weeks, the event gathered 30 hot air balloons in Changning, which spectacularly lit up the skies above the Shunan Bamboo Sea.
On the evening of November 23, the opening ceremony was filled with excitement. The classic balloon illumination ceremony added a bright and lively touch to Changning, while the sweet and romantic hot air balloon wedding in the sky thrilled and electrified the audience. A dazzling display of colorful hot air balloons put on a magnificent light show in Changning.
After the opening on the evening of November 23, a series of activities including free flight sessions, hot air balloon tethered rides, thrilling paragliding performances, and model aircraft shows were carried out in an orderly fashion over consecutive days, creating an awe-inspiring and exciting atmosphere. On November 25, a series of hot air balloon parent-child outdoor experience activities held at the China Aviation Flight Camp in the Shunan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area attracted widespread participation from citizens and tourists, offering a new perspective and engaging in deep interaction with the Shunan Bamboo Sea in Changning.
It is reported that during the event, the China Aviation Flight Camp within the Shunan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area in Changning hosted multiple parent-child education activities themed around hot air balloons, supplemented by other aircraft, further enriching and optimizing the experience for citizens and visitors. Children learned about hot air balloon culture and aviation knowledge through activities such as hot air balloon science lectures, tethered rides, model making, aerial mailboxes, and paper plane competitions. While enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Shunan Bamboo Sea, they also had an unforgettable low-altitude hot air balloon adventure, creating precious childhood memories. Moreover, this hot air balloon low-altitude tourism parent-child education initiative successfully integrated "sports, tourism, parent-child education, and low-altitude training," achieving a deep combination of Changning’s urban brand image and visitor experience. It has become a sustainable and expandable sports tourism product for Changning.
Additionally, as the grand finale of the Hot Air Balloon Sky Flying Month, a fiery hot air balloon parade took center stage on the evening of December 5, dazzling Changning. Dozens of parade vehicles gathered at the main venue of the opening ceremony and, led by police cars, traveled along Yichang Road – Zhuhai Avenue – the overpass near the high-speed railway station on Zhuhai Avenue. The event concluded with a return to the main venue, covering a total of 5 kilometers of flaming sections. The fire-spouting parade was a grand and captivating performance, with an impressive convoy of vehicles performing in sequence. Hot air balloon baskets and burners mounted on open trucks paraded along the route, displaying a variety of flame effects synchronized to music, with flames shooting out either in sequence or all at once.
The hosting of this event is of great significance in enriching Changning’s tourism offerings, boosting the creation of the "National All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zone," "Tianfu Characteristic Tourism County," and "Shunan Bamboo Sea National 5A-Level Scenic Spot," and establishing a global destination for bamboo eco-cultural tourism. Since Changning County has thoroughly implemented the concept of "green development," it has not only enhanced the city’s international visibility and the influence of the Shunan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area but also focused on building a modern tourism-driven economy. Leveraging the creation of the National All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zone, Tianfu Tourism County, and the Shunan Bamboo Sea National 5A-Level Scenic Spot, the county used hot air balloon low-altitude tourism experiences to showcase the natural beauty, ecological charm, cultural richness, and aviation appeal of Changning. This significantly promoted the local integration of "culture, sports, and tourism." The Hot Air Balloon Sky Flying Month event also marked an important step forward on the path of "tourism+" development.
In addition to popularizing aviation knowledge, enhancing visitor experience, increasing the influence of the Shunan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area, and expanding the Changning city brand, the various activities and courses of the 2018 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea Hot Air Balloon "Liya Upstream City" Sky Flying Month upgraded the "low-altitude tourism" product system by incorporating parent-child education concepts. This formed a new model for hot air balloon sports-tourism development, generating more vitality through innovative combinations of "sports + tourism" and creating parent-child family-oriented sports tourism products. Traditional sightseeing destinations have thus been able to fully leverage their environmental advantages while extending their influence to surrounding areas, enriching the leisure and entertainment lives of residents and establishing a uniquely distinctive "new sports tourism brand" for the Changning region.