Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, staged a large-scale drone show Saturday night to launch a monthly performance program aimed at boosting consumption and tourism.

The debut unfolded in ten themed sections tracing the city's 3,000-year history, with drones sketching vivid images across the night sky. The performance ended with a striking finale as the city flower, a blooming Chinese rose, lit up the sky in dazzling formation.

"Drones projected Nanchang's history into the sky and there is good integration of technology and culture. We saw many patterns with local characteristics and as a Nanchang local, I'm filled with great pride," said Wei Fei, one of the spectators.

The show drew tens of thousands of spectators, driving foot traffic to nearby businesses and pushing hotels to report a surge in bookings and inquiry calls.

"Occupancy rate rose by 30.3 percent compared with ordinary weekends and river-view rooms were nearly fully booked. The front desk received significantly more calls for inquiries and reservations," said Zhuo Hua, a hotel supervisor.

City officials said the monthly shows will be developed into a tourism brand, combining heritage storytelling with modern entertainment to boost economy and visitor experience.