The thunderous roar of 56 ceremonial cannons marked the beginning of the 80th-anniversary grand gathering commemorating victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War on Sept 3. 

This year, the welcoming cannons and control vehicles used in the gathering were developed and produced by the First Machinery Group Firmaco Shanxi North Machine Building Co.

Pei Weidong, the company's project chief engineer, said, "Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, our factory has been the primary supplier of ceremonial cannons for major parades." The featured welcoming cannon used in the gathering weighs approximately 750 kilograms. It is both dignified in appearance and performs reliably.

Thanks to years of precision and reliability, Shanxi North Machine Building's ceremonial cannons have consistently played a key role in national celebrations and diplomatic events, becoming a "sound symbol of national ceremonies".

In addition to the ceremonial cannons, the J-10 fighter jets' breathtaking display of 14 colored smoke trails was another highlight. The trails were created using solid-colored smoke cartridges developed by Shanxi Beifang Jindong Chemical Co.

After receiving the military's request in mid-March, the company used its extensive experience in military pyrotechnics to swiftly begin improving the smoke cartridges for the gathering. Over three months of intensive effort, the team resolved all technical and quality issues, meeting and even exceeding all required standards.

As the 14 smoke trails painted the sky during the gathering, Jindong Chemical's developers couldn't hide their excitement. From the Olympic flame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the colored smoke trails at the grand gathering, the company continues to use advanced pyrotechnic technology to serve the nation and contribute to society.