Over 33,000 Drones Break Three Guinness World Records in Spectacular Sichuan Display
More than 33,000 drones illuminated the night sky over Dujiangyan, Sichuan, on May 21, shattering three Guinness World Records in a single flight and marking a new milestone in China’s rapidly advancing low-altitude economy. The display, organized by MOVA Yufengzhe — a sub-brand of Dreame Technology — saw 33,615 unmanned aircraft take off simultaneously from Chenfeng Qingchengshan Airport, according to CCTV News.
Three Records, One Night
Guinness World Records officials were present on-site to certify three separate achievements: the most drones controlled simultaneously in flight, the most drones forming an aerial pattern, and the largest area LED mesh flying screen. The flying screen — a 148.561-square-meter flexible LED panel — rose to an altitude of 100 meters and remained stable even in winds reaching Force 6 on the Beaufort scale, as reported by ITHome.
This marks the first time humanity has achieved a coordinated flight of over 30,000 drones, representing a roughly 49% increase over the previous record of 22,580 drones set just three and a half months earlier by EHang during the Spring Festival Gala in Hefei, Anhui.
Technological Breakthrough
The achievement was underpinned by a series of proprietary technological innovations. MOVA Yufengzhe deployed a distributed flight control system that gives each drone independent navigation and risk-monitoring capabilities. If a single unit malfunctions or loses signal, the system automatically isolates it to maintain overall safety.
According to Kuai Keji, the company’s technology stack includes a self-developed high-stability LAN communication system, dual-frequency RTK positioning fused with BeiDou-3 and GPS satellite navigation for centimeter-level static accuracy, and SLAM navigation algorithms. Critically, MOVA claims 100% domestic production of core hardware components, from flight control boards to airframe structures.
“The simultaneous birth of three records is not only a scale breakthrough, but also a challenge to the technological maturity of China’s low-altitude economy industry,” said Mo Fan, MOVA Yufengzhe’s Technology Lead, in a statement. “It is a demonstration by all low-altitude technology practitioners to the world of China’s hard-tech capabilities in the low-altitude sector.”
The Flying Screen: A New Commercial Frontier
A standout feature of the event was the “flying screen” — a massive flexible LED display lifted by the drone swarm. The 148.561 m² screen achieved broadcast-grade live video quality while suspended at 100 meters, opening new possibilities for aerial advertising, entertainment, and tourism applications. The screen and the drone formation operated with millisecond-level synchronization through a shared communication system.
China’s Low-Altitude Economy Takes Flight
The record-breaking event is the latest demonstration of China’s ambitions in the low-altitude economy — a strategic emerging industry that the government has prioritized for development. According to projections from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the country’s low-altitude economy market size is expected to exceed 2 trillion yuan (approximately $279 billion) by 2030.
The year 2025 has been widely referred to as “Year One” of China’s low-altitude economy, with multiple national and local policies introduced to support low-altitude infrastructure. Applications ranging from aerial tourism and cultural performances to instant delivery and emergency rescue are rapidly being deployed across Chinese cities.
China’s drone swarm records have accelerated at a remarkable pace: from 15,947 drones in Nanchang in October 2025, to 22,580 in Hefei in February 2026, and now 33,615 in Dujiangyan — a doubling of scale in just over seven months.
What’s Next
Mo Fan indicated that the company’s ambitions extend far beyond entertainment. “Swarm formation flying is just a starting point,” he said. “In the future, we will work with the industry to promote more low-altitude scenarios, letting China’s drone flight performances light up global landmarks, and pushing our low-altitude products and service scenarios to cities around the world.”
The technologies validated in this record attempt — swarm control, precision positioning, and real-time communication — are expected to find applications in logistics, emergency response, and urban air mobility, positioning MOVA Yufengzhe as a key player in the next phase of China’s low-altitude economy development.