China admits spectacular New Year's Eve drone display actually pre-recorded

The display was actually recorded on December 28.
The display was actually recorded on December 28. Photo credit: CCTV

You might have seen it: thousands of drones flying in unison over Shanghai - a spectacular display to welcome in the new year.

But now it seems the choreographed New Year's Eve display did not happen on New Year's Eve at all.

Although the event was beamed around the world by China's state-run media on New Year's Eve, organisers confirmed to BBC News it was actually carried out a few days earlier, on December 28. 

The revelation comes after people who watched New Year's Eve events in the city came forward saying they never saw such a thing.

The video showed 2000 drones flying into the night sky and forming the shape of fireworks and running figures. Eventually, the number 2020 was also spelled out to welcome in the new decade.

But now, following speculation from many living in the city who said they didn't any such event on New Year's Eve, the media manager of the company which pulled off the display, Yihang Bailu, admitted it was actually filmed a few nights before the end of the decade.

The manager told BBC the company had been instructed "to ensure the global live broadcasting effect".