A Fresh Perspective: Behind the Design of the Chongqing Sub-Venue of CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala

On the evening of January 28, the Chongqing sub-venue of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala lit up the city with a vibrant celebration of culture and technology. A series of performances — including traditional folk dances, displays of intangible cultural heritage, and festive customs — unfolded across Chongqing’s most iconic landmarks. The centerpiece was a dazzling light-and-shadow stage formed by 780 intelligently synchronized new energy vehicles, blending cutting-edge technology with artistic expression. Meanwhile, the main stage and the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park operated in parallel, featuring Chinese and international performers alongside 100 representatives of Chongqing’s “New Era Strivers,” together showcasing the city’s unique identity as a metropolis of natural beauty, rich culture, innovation, and openness.

Breaking the Stage Mold: A Celebration of 27 Iconic Chongqing Landmarks

“New” was the very first word spoken by Gu Zhigang — and it truly captures the spirit of the Chongqing sub-venue. The theme “Qing·Xinchun” (literally “Celebrate the New Spring”) is both succinct and layered in meaning. It signifies not only a celebration of the Lunar New Year but also a nod to Chongqing’s own new beginnings. The concept of “moving forward with the new” weaves through the entire show, connecting the opening dance, the main performances, and even the midnight countdown. The idea of “new” stands for a new year, a new journey, and renewed hope — the driving force behind the creative direction of the entire production.

Danzishi Square in Nan‘an District, the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala Chongqing sub-venue recording site. Photo by Chief reporter Long Fan

Gu Zhigang believes that Chongqing’s most distinctive feature lies in its 8D terrain and its futuristic, cyberpunk aesthetic — both of which inspired the design of the venue’s main stage. “The stage design is minimalist yet meaningful,” he explained. “The 28 steps symbolize the flowing landscape of Chongqing, as if stretching into every corner of the city.” This concept not only embodies the city’s indomitable uphill-climbing spirit but also highlights its fashionable and modern character. Chongqing’s landscape is richly layered and multidimensional, offering breathtaking views whether seen from the skies or explored on foot.

Notably, while the main stage was located at Danzishi Square in Chongqing’s Nan’an District, the entire performance extended far beyond this single location. The show broke free from the traditional stage format and unfolded across 27 of Chongqing’s most iconic and visually distinctive landmarks along the city’s famous “two rivers and four banks.” “From Qiansimen Bridge, Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, and Guanyinqiao, to the Seres Super Factory and the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park — we probably covered more locations than any of the other three sub-venues,” said Gu Zhigang. “Since the earliest planning stages, we wanted audiences to experience not just a cultural performance, but a multi-faceted Chongqing — to see its stunning landscapes, feel the spirit of its people, and sense their happiness. The show blends emotion with scenery, creating a harmonious fusion of feeling and place.”

Take Qiansimen Bridge as an example — here, the production team created a fantastical New Year celebration show rooted in a unique, real-life tradition of the city. “During major holidays, Qiansimen Bridge is regularly closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians, transforming into one of the city’s most popular scenic spots,” Gu explained. “So we designed this segment as a narrative encounter: tourists from Beijing arriving just in time to experience Chongqing’s New Year celebrations. As always, the bridge turns into a pedestrian walkway where locals and visitors gather to enjoy the views and welcome the new year together.” He added, “More than just a performance, this scene allows us to glimpse the lives of those who live, work, and travel here — and to feel the warmth and happiness of everyday life in Chongqing.” Gu also highlighted the incorporation of various intangible cultural heritage elements, which appear throughout the scene in alternation. These traditional elements are seamlessly blended with youthful lifestyles, echoing the down-to-earth vibrance hidden beneath Chongqing’s futuristic cyber exterior.

Qiansimen Bridge, the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala Chongqing sub-venue recording site. Photo by Chief reporter Long Fan

At the Seres Super Factory, a spectacular technology-themed show was staged. “We broke conventional boundaries between industries,” Gu said, “by merging automobile manufacturing, intelligent control systems, performing arts, and even sports — to convey the energy of innovation, the driving force of new productivity, and the Olympic spirit of going higher, faster, and stronger.” He noted that this creative crossover was a playful yet thoughtful innovation from the directing team, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to the show.

Redefining Stage Vision:
Low-Flying Drones Elevate Chongqing’s Visual Spectacle

Unlike the other sub-venues, the main stage in Chongqing took a distinctly unconventional approach. There wasn’t a single traditional LED screen in sight. Instead, the city’s layered nightscape and the flowing waters of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers formed the most natural and poetic backdrop. Though compact in size, the stage was rich in meaning and emotional depth — brought to life and extended into the sky by a mesmerizing matrix of over 3,000 drones. These drones transformed the performance space into a canvas of imagination, blending technology and storytelling in a uniquely Chongqing way.

The now widely shared drone segment — born from the acclaimed “Chongqing in 7 Minutes” — exemplified this integration of technology and humanity. Unlike earlier drone shows that focused primarily on high-altitude formations, this performance pushed boundaries with low-altitude choreography, effectively expanding the physical and emotional scope of the stage. “Some of our drones flew just half a meter above the ground,” Gu noted. “Whether it was the camellia — Chongqing’s city flower — blooming upward from the stage steps, or a China-Europe freight train weaving through mountains toward the sea, these elements extended the narrative into a fully immersive space. In Chongqing, our stages are truly 8D and multi-dimensional.” Gu added that the use of drones not only broke the visual plane but also amplified the city’s cyber-aesthetic and high-tech energy, giving the entire show a more futuristic tone.

Danzishi Square in Nan‘an District, the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala Chongqing sub-venue recording site. Photo by Chief reporter Long Fan

A Perfect Match:
Design That Reflects Chongqing’s Resilient Soul

Throughout the interview, Gu Zhigang repeatedly emphasized the cultural essence of Chongqing. As it turns out, the creative concept behind the show naturally aligned with the city’s spirit — one defined by resilience, loyalty, openness, and an unyielding drive to lead.

For instance, in the opening sequence of the Spring Festival Gala — when the Beijing main venue connected with the four branch venues — Chongqing’s 30-second segment featured layered visuals of Chaotianmen Pier’s cascading steps, the historic Eighteen Stairs, Wanzhou’s Grand Staircase, and the Chiyou Jiuli City in Pengshui. These iconic slopes and stairways, and the ever-upbeat spirit they symbolize, captured the city’s rugged geography and the unwavering perseverance of its people. Another scene takes place at the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, where a group of children are seen spray-painting bright, hopeful graffiti onto shipping containers — a playful yet heartfelt vision of the future. Their dreams and blessings travel the world aboard freight trains loaded with goods “Made in Chongqing” — from cars and electronics to fresh produce — streaming continuously to Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond. From “me” to “we”, from “Chongqing” to “the world”, the segment conveys, through artistic expression, the city’s strategic role as both a hub for inland openness and a key pillar of western China’s development.

“When we first started brainstorming ideas for the show, Chongqing’s new city spirit slogan hadn’t even been released yet,” Gu recalled. “It was only after we finalized the initial concept that we realized what a wonderful coincidence it all was.”

During rehearsals, what left the deepest impression on Gu was the warmth and enthusiasm of Chongqing’s residents. “Almost every day, people gathered along Nanbin Road and other locations just to catch a glimpse of the production. Behind that enthusiasm was a deep sense of goodwill and pride,” he said. Over 95% of the performers at the Chongqing sub-venue were non-professional locals — everyday people who poured their hearts into showcasing the beauty of their city. Their sincerity and passion moved everyone involved.

In fact, Gu had already experienced Chongqing’s fiery spirit long before the Gala.

In August 2024, Gu served as chief director of the Chongqing segment of Lights of China, a co-production between CCTV and Chongqing Radio & Television Group. Over more than two weeks of filming, the crew used their lenses to capture stories of light — illuminating the city’s mountainous landscapes, vibrant urban life, and rich cultural soul.

“Working on Lights of China and then the Spring Festival Gala completely made me fall in love with Chongqing — its warmth, its humanity, and its beautifully relaxed rhythm,” Gu shared. “I sincerely hope this city continues to thrive, and that its people always live with happiness in their hearts.”

Source: New Chongqing – Chongqing Daily | Reporters: Zhou Shuangshuang, Long Fan, and Mei Yao