Six Gen Z founders are reinventing China’s century-old fireworks trade
- ByStartupStory | November 3, 2025
Six Gen Z Founders Are Reinventing China’s Century-Old Fireworks Trade
A group of six young entrepreneurs, all born after 2000, have set out to transform one of China’s oldest and most traditional industries—the fireworks trade. Based in Liuyang, Hunan province, known as the heart of the Chinese fireworks industry, this startup, Shuai Shuai Fireworks, was founded in 2023 and has already defied expectations by achieving over RMB 10 million (approximately USD 1.4 million) in sales in its first year.
Led by Wu Mingyang, whose father was a fireworks distributor in Heilongjiang, the founders brought together diverse expertise ranging from computer science to finance and civil engineering. They relocated from Northeast China to Liuyang, a city with more than 430 fireworks manufacturers that account for around 60% of China’s domestic market and nearly 60% of its exports. Liuyang’s fireworks industry had an output value of RMB 50.22 billion (USD 7 billion) in 2024.
Without owning a factory, Shuai Shuai Fireworks operates on a contract manufacturing model to maintain costs and ensure safety. Its innovative approach to packaging includes more than 100 SKUs featuring culturally inspired designs that link major Chinese cities’ landmarks with modern aesthetics. Packaging for products like the “Beijing” edition uses traditional red and gold colors, “Harbin” features icy white tones, and “Shanghai” sports blue and purple hues.
To enhance consumer experience further, the company introduced QR codes on packaging allowing buyers to scan and view videos of actual fireworks displays, addressing the industry’s long-standing “blind box” issue where customers had to guess the firework effects from static images.
Fuelling its success, Shuai Shuai Fireworks primarily targets lower-tier and rural markets in China, where demand for traditional fireworks remains strong despite bans in larger cities. The company plans to expand globally, having already obtained necessary qualifications for overseas sales.
Wu Mingyang’s team embodies youthful energy and innovation, successfully leveraging design and technology to elevate an industry steeped in tradition, giving it renewed vibrancy and commercial appeal.
In summary, these six Gen Z founders are reshaping China’s historic fireworks trade by blending cultural heritage with modern design and technology, helping this centuries-old industry embrace the future while preserving its celebrated legacy.
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