XCMG brought 2,000 drones into the night sky over Xuzhou, China, as part of the 11th XCMG Staff Arts Festival, which opened on September 19. The XCMG drone show was one of the main attractions of an event that gathered more than 3,000 employees from across the construction machinery maker’s businesses and operations. The aerial display was built around 12 scenes tied to the festival’s theme and served as a visual centerpiece for a program focused on employee talent and company culture.
The festival was organized under the theme “Charming XCMG, Everyone Shines” and combined live performances by employees with displays of XCMG construction equipment and a livestream shared with viewers around the world. More than 50 media outlets and social media platforms in different countries carried the event. Together, that coverage reached an audience of more than 5.3 million people, and viewers outside China accounted for more than 400,000 views of the festival.
XCMG Drone Show Brings Industry and Art Together
The aerial segment took place on the evening of the festival’s opening. During the performance, 2,000 drones flew a 12-scene light show designed around the “Charming XCMG, Everyone Shines” theme, turning the sky above Xuzhou into a moving display of light. XCMG described the show as a visual highlight that united industry, art and technology in a single presentation. The drones were part of a wider lineup of attractions that also included a food market, XCMG-branded merchandise and interactive exhibits focused on the company’s brand and technology.
Heavy machinery played a visible role on the ground as well. The stage was set against the backdrop of the world’s first 14,000-ton ring crane, giving the festival a setting that reflected the company’s core business. XCMG crawler cranes and wheeled cranes worked together to lift a large screen into position, while dozens of aerial work platforms and cranes helped install the lighting, sound and other stage systems. Instead of serving only as scenery, the equipment became part of how the event was physically built and presented to the audience.
That approach linked the XCMG drone show in the sky with the cranes and platforms below it. Machines normally used on construction sites handled the heavy lifting for the stage, while the drones delivered the evening’s aerial imagery. The combination gave employees and online viewers a look at how the company chose to present its equipment and technology in a cultural setting rather than a work site.
Employee Performances Trace More Than Three Decades of Festival History
On stage, the program was divided into three sections titled “Charming XCMG People,” “Now Is the Time to Pursue Our Dreams” and “A Journey in Song.” Each section relied on music, dance and other art forms to share the experiences of frontline employees, including their daily work, their career goals and the ways they have grown alongside the company. The festival was designed to give workers in many different roles a chance to take the spotlight, while also connecting colleagues based in China with those working overseas.
The event has deep roots inside the company. It began as a staff arts performance in 1992 and has since grown over more than 30 years into a companywide cultural program that covers music and dance, calligraphy and painting, stage performances, and cultural and creative projects. Across that same period, XCMG developed into the world’s third-largest construction machinery manufacturer, according to the company. The 2026 edition continued that tradition while featuring a global livestream and the XCMG drone show as part of its program.
Yang Dongsheng, chairman of XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery, characterized the festival as both an artistic event and a cultural celebration created for the company’s employees. He explained that the “Charming XCMG, Everyone Shines” theme reflects the company’s commitment to offering workers a platform where they can show their talents. According to Yang, the theme also honors the dedication, innovation and pursuit of excellence that XCMG sees across its workforce.
