It probably won’t be much of surprise that a big fireworks display will be one of the highlights of the opening ceremony with China being one of the largest manufacturers of fireworks in the world and the inventors of gun powder and possibly fireworks.

Zhang Yimou director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers is the creative director for the event.

“A large-scale fireworks display is something we absolutely must have” as part of a programme that will celebrate 5,000 years of Chinese history, Zhang said.

The opening ceremony will run for three and a half hours and is sure to be a highlight of the Beijing Olympics.

Read more: Reports say opera, fireworks to launch Olympic Games