Many Chinese cities lit up the night sky with spectacular light shows in recent days to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force, which falls on Nov 11.
As night fell and the lights illuminated the streets, buildings along the Minjiang River in Fuzhou City, east China's Fujian Province were virtually transformed into giant screens, displaying rotating slogans like "Seeking roots, chasing dreams, conquering the skies" and "Flying towards victory for the dream," drawing crowds of locals and tourists to stop and watch.
In Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, large-scale light shows were staged on the facades of buildings at Fushan Bay, featuring messages like "The People's Air Force is loyal to the Party, founded by the Party" and "Celebrating the 75th Founding Anniversary of the People's Air Force," brightening the city's skyline.
In other cities like Guangzhou in the south, Shijiazhuang and Datong in the north, and Nanchang in the east, hundreds of electronic screens displayed promotional videos and celebratory posters for the air force's 75th founding anniversary. These spectacular shows offered a panoramic view of the Air Force's remarkable journey, which reflects the unwavering spirit of today's airmen.
Dazzling light shows staged across Chinese cities to mark 75th founding anniversary of Air Force
Dazzling light shows staged across Chinese cities to mark 75th founding anniversary of Air Force
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started the annual training for 2025, focusing on high-intensity drills across multiple arms to enhance comprehensive real combat capabilities.
At a training base on the plateau with an altitude of over 2,800 meters, a brigade of the 76th Group Army conducted a full-staff, full-equipment deployment exercise based on actual combat scenarios.
The soldiers completed tasks such as equipment deployment, formation adjustment, and railway loading within a specified time, improving their emergency deployment capabilities in the harsh high-altitude, low-oxygen environment.
As the new year begins, naval forces have sailed to the deep seas for real combat-oriented training.
A submarine detachment of the Southern Theater Command Navy conducted underwater attack and defense drills, testing and enhancing the single-submarine combat capabilities and coordinated operational abilities under complex conditions.
"At the beginning of the New Year, we have commenced high-intensity military training. We practice coordination ability, combat skills and combat style to ensure we can project forces and win battles at any time," said Wang Cunnian, a naval officer.
Meanwhile, the Air Force's aviation troops, ground-to-air missile forces, and radar troops have carried out joint training on multiple aircraft types in realistic battlefield environments, honing their combat capabilities.
At an airbase of the Eastern Theater Command Air Force, several J-16 fighter jets took off in combat formation, with pilots sharpening their air combat, close air support, and ground assault skills.
The Rocket Force has also launched a series of drills based on established programs, creating complex confrontation environments to enhance strategic deterrence and real combat abilities, from deserts to deep mountains, from snowy plateaus to waters in the South China Sea.
The People's Armed Police Force has also kicked off a wave of realistic exercises across multiple domains and specialties.
At the Falcon Commandos training base, special operation members are conducting exercises on "ground anti-hijacking" and "train anti-hostage" scenarios, comprehensively testing their emergency response and decisive action capabilities.
"In the new year, Falcon commandos will bear in mind President Xi's instructions, adhere to principles of real combat-oriented training, special training for special operation, deepen research on counter-terrorism tasks, and highlight research and training on topics such as precise command and control, three-dimensional delivery, tactical depth raids, and integrated reconnaissance and strike. We will improve all-time, all-domain, and all-weather combat capabilities, and strive to build a world-class counter-terrorism special unit," said Major Yang Zhen, member of the Falcon Commandos.
Various PLA services start annual training for 2025
