迎春第一声：一个童年在自己小时候，另一个童年在烟火炮仗中 | Liuyang Fireworks

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It's New Year's Eve. Zhang Qiuming and his colleagues are all suited-up and equipped at the work site. They have been preparing for half a month.

虽然正值除夕，刚入夜，张秋明和他的同事们已经穿好工作服来到预定场地，摆好了阵势。为了这一天，他们准备了半个多月。

It's a fireworks performance in Liuyang city. Many people would appreciate the beautiful fireworks for the celebration of the Spring Festival tonight.

这是浏阳花炮的又一次商业演出。今夜，许多人将聚在一起，仰望天空中绚丽的烟火，共度佳节。

Liuyang is called the "city of fireworks" in China. It's also the largest base for fireworks production and exportation in the world. There are all kinds of fireworks with various forms and colors, which can be used on different occasions. They are favorites for many galas and ceremonies.

湖南浏阳是中国花炮之乡，也是全球最大的花炮生产和出口基地。这里的花炮种类繁多，设计、造型和色彩多种多样，能适应各种场合、各种地区，深受大型晚会和节庆庆典的青睐。

Zhang grew up surrounded by the noise of firecrackers. Whenever good things happen or people feel happy, they'd always celebrate with fireworks. "In Liuyang, the Spring Festival is celebrated by setting off three bunches of firecrackers. One for the reunion dinner, one before closing the door at New Year's Eve, and one when you open the door on the first morning of the new year. The more firecrackers, the better." 

张秋明从小成长在花炮窝里。家中凡有喜事，总少不了放鞭炮和烟花。“浏阳人过年，三挂鞭炮是必不可少的。吃团圆饭，除夕晚上关门，早上开柴门，都要放，越长越好。”

People even keep the red residues for more than a week, symbolizing lasting prosperity.

家家户户门口的鞭炮皮十几天不扫，寓意新年红红火火。

As a professional fireworks operator, Zhang can do more than "light up the sky."

不过，作为专业焰火师，张秋明的职责不仅仅是让整个烟花表演变得“热闹”。

"For us, the sky is the canvas and the fireworks are the paint," he says, adding, "Fireworks are abstract. It's the combinations of colors."

“我们焰火师，天空当纸，烟花当墨，齐天作画。”张秋明说，“烟火很抽象，是以用色调来表达。”

"Red stands for passion; gold for dreams; white for snow; green for spring; and blue for the sea and the sky. Red and gold are always the colors for the Chinese Spring Festival." Zhang and his crew would combine different types and sizes of fireworks to achieve certain visual effects.

“红色，热烈；金色，梦想；白色，飘雪；绿色，春天；蓝色，海洋，天空。春节，红色和金色，永远是中国的主色调。”不同的烟花品种，不同的规格尺寸，通过排兵布阵，燃放出不同的层次效果和画面。

The designs of the fireworks change every year according to the Chinese Zodiac. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, so the designers chose the shape of a dog. "Bow-wow sounds like 'prosperity' in the Chinese language."

每年春节的烟花设计，都会根据当年的生肖有所变化。2018年是狗年，焰火设计师选用了瑞犬图案的彩灯，为表演增加气氛。“狗叫旺旺嘛。”

Modern fireworks can be more complicated than we imagine. To guarantee the best show, operators need to program and operate on computers and remote controls. Laser and music are also indispensable for a grand show. 

现代的烟花燃放，远比人们想象中复杂。要成功将精心设计的礼花弹送上天空，需要提前编程，通过电脑和控制器进行操作。激光、配乐也是盛大的烟火表演不可缺少的元素。

Zhang missed several festivals with his family because of the preparation for the shows. "From January 1 to the Lantern Festival, we make fireworks without a single break." He says, "Not until after the Spring Festival holidays can we join our families."

为了节庆时期的烟花表演，张秋明常常不能回家过年。“从元旦开始一直到元宵，是我们最忙的时候”，他说，“每年都是春节以后才能和家人团聚。”

He has brought, however, loads of happiness to other people. Besides major cities in China, his fireworks have also illuminated the night sky of New York City, dazzling overseas Chinese in lands far away on Chinese New Year’s Eve. 

但他为人们带去了无穷的欢乐。他的烟火，不仅在全国各大城市的夜空出现过，还曾点亮纽约的除夕之夜。人们对故乡的思念，对未来美好的希冀，都化作异乡夜空中绚丽的华彩。

"Fireworks are not all for the passion. There can also be some deep emotions," says Zhang. "The key is to arouse the sympathy of the audience."

“烟火并不是完全代表激情和热烈的东西，它同样可以抒发深层次的感情。”张秋明说，“关键是要引起观众的共鸣。”

With another bang, the colorful sparks spiraled into the sky and won a big round of applause. With such happiness and excitement, the Spring Festival has arrived.

随着又一声炮响，闪亮的礼花螺旋形绽开，引得观众一阵欢呼。这份热闹与欢乐，拉开了真正春节的序幕。

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过年喽

Cameraman: Fang Zhijun

Film Editor: Gu Yue, Peng Shuai 

Story written by: Zhu Siqi 

English editor: Henry Weimin 

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