Chongqing - On the evening of the 28th, the night sky over Chongqing transformed into a luminous storybook, as thousands of drones staged a spectacular show, this time, not with abstract patterns, but with a moving "serial comic" depicting an ancient local legend. Against the backdrop of the city’s iconic riverside landscape, the drones vividly formed scenes from the tale of the Great Yu, his wife Tushan Nü, and the "Calling-for-Return Stone" (Hu Gui Stone)—a legendary rock said to embody her centuries-long wait for Yu’s return from controlling the floods.

Drones depict scenes from the folk tale picture book "Hu Gui Stone". (Photo/Liu Heyue)

What made this display unique was its origin: it marked the first cross-disciplinary collaboration between Chongqing’s drone light show producers and a local illustrator, aimed at creating a distinctive cultural IP deeply rooted in the city's heritage. The narrative was adapted from the 2016 illustrated book Calling-for-Return Stone, created by a Chongqing-born artist, Liu Heyue.

"I grew up listening to local folk tales. They've been an endless source of inspiration for me," Liu told reporters. The story draws from the widely known legend of the Great Yu taming the waters, localized in Chongqing, where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet. According to the tale, Tushan Nü sang and waited on the riverside for so long that she eventually turned into a stone, forever calling for her husband's return.

Drones depict scenes from the folk tale picture book "Hu Gui Stone". (Photo/Liu Heyue)

"This isn't just a drone light show. It's an urban cultural expression that merges picture books, mythology, and technology," Liu said. "From paper to the sky, the medium has changed, but the cultural essence—the spirit, emotion, and local heritage—remains unchanged. This is a continuation of culture."

As the cultural and artistic director of this drone performance, Liu condensed the story into ten key frames, carefully balancing emotional depth with the technical logic of drone formation. Each frame had to stand alone yet flow seamlessly, preserving the legend’s emotional tension while adapting to the possibilities of aerial choreography.

Author Liu Heyue (right) poses for a photo with family members, holding a copy of his illustrated book "HuGui Stone". (Photo/Liu Heyue)

Liu sees the project as part of a broader trend: as short videos, digital art, and drone technology advance, traditional stories are finding new life and reaching wider, often younger, audiences. The aerial rendition of Calling-for-Return Stonemay offers a new model for how local cultural stories can be retold in the age of technology. "I want to keep illustrating Chongqing's legends and folk tales," Liu said, reflecting on his years of collecting stories from local communities. Through his work, he hopes to make these narratives feel alive—allowing readers and viewers to encounter a vibrant, real Chongqing, where ancient tales and modern creativity flow together like the city‘s two great rivers.