Hundreds gathered in Hong Kong for the city's first pyrotechnics drone show

HONG KONG (AP) — Hundreds gathered in Hong Kong on Saturday to watch the city’s first pyrotechnics drone show, as part of a campaign to raise support and awareness of panda conservation.

The 10-minute drone show featured 1,000 drones, some of which were equipped with fireworks, flying over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour and forming images of the city’s giant pandas.

During certain parts of the spectacle, some drones displayed fireworks, while hundreds of others formed a three-dimensional panda that slowly rotated in the sky.

Some eager spectators arrived hours before the show to ensure that they would get a good viewing spot.

Eddie Chow, a father who brought his two kids to the drone show, said such shows could attract more tourists to Hong Kong.

“I think the rundown was great, combining fireworks and drones is a very special theme, Hong Kong should have more of these activities,” said Chow, adding that Saturday’s spectacle was his first experience in watching a drone show.

Other spectators, such as Jodi Hung, a Hong Kong resident in her 20s, also praised the drone show as “great.”

“I think people who designed the drone show had very good technique, very amazing, they combined art and techniques together,” Hung said.

Hong Kong has launched a series of activities across the city in recent weeks –- including exhibitions and a panda-themed carnival -– after Beijing gifted Hong Kong with a pair of giant pandas, named An An and Ke Ke. The arrival of the pair takes the total number of giant pandas in Hong Kong to six, all of whom reside at the city’s Ocean Park, a theme park comprising amusement park rides and animal exhibits.

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

People watch the panda-themed drone show at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Panda sculptures are displayed at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour during the panda-themed drone show in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Panda sculptures are displayed at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour during the panda-themed drone show in Hong Kong, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin has 869 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 26 to set a new record.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. Ovechkin resumed his pursuit Saturday night at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.

Ovechkin scored an empty-netter in the third period of a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, getting goal 869 in his first game back from injury.

The Capitals play at Detroit on Sunday. Ovechkin has scored 24 goals against them during his career.

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,693.

He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135).

Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.

Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.

Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894).

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons. Ovechkin has played in 1,445 total games so far.

Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.

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FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)