He Built a Ladder of Fire to the Sky for His Grandma, and It Is Breathtaking
The idea stayed with Cai Guo-Qiang for most of his life. As a child, he imagined a ladder rising straight into the sky. Years later, after becoming known for working with gunpowder and fire, he tried to make it real. The timing was never right. A 1994 attempt failed because of the wind. Another plan in 2001 was shut down after new airspace restrictions following 9/11. Even a later version in the United States did not feel complete to him.
Each setback narrowed his options. Weather limits, safety rules, and flight warnings dictated where, when, and how the piece could exist. The idea itself remained uncomplicated. Making it happen required patience, calculation, and waiting for the exact right moment.
Why This Version Finally Worked
The successful attempt took place at Huiyu Island Harbour in Quanzhou, Fujian, China, on June 15, 2015, at 4:49 a.m. A white helium balloon lifted a 502-meter ladder made from metal wire, aluminum, and carefully arranged gunpowder. Copper wiring helped keep the support cable nearly invisible once the ladder ignited.
When lit, golden flames raced upward for about 150 seconds. Earlier versions aimed for dusk, but this one climbed into the morning light, reducing wind risk and improving visibility. The ladder stayed intact just long enough to register fully before disappearing, which had always been part of the plan.
The Technical Risk Behind the Beauty
Image via iStockphoto/Ja’Crispy
This was never a casual fireworks display. Every element needed coordination, from weather conditions to burn rate. The ladder had to rise smoothly, ignite evenly, and remain stable long enough to complete its run. Any miscalculation could have ended the attempt in seconds.
Cai’s background had seen him oversee massive fireworks events, including the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and he understood how scale, timing, and safety intersect. That experience explains why the final version looked effortless while relying on strict control.
The Personal Reason It Happened at All
Image via Getty Images/Dmitry Berkut
The project had a private purpose that shaped its final form. Sky Ladder served as a tribute to Cai’s grandmother, who supported his work for decades and turned 100 the year the ladder finally succeeded. That motivation influenced the piece’s tone. It avoided aggressive effects and focused on clarity and restraint.
The ladder did not last long, and it did not need to. Its value sat in the act of completing something imagined long ago and shared with family and hometown before anyone else. The audience on site saw it once, and that was enough.
How the World Found Out Afterward
The event did not go viral immediately. A video of the ladder reached the public weeks later, spreading quickly once it went online. Viewers reacted to the scale and simplicity, often assuming it had been staged for the internet. In reality, the moment had already ended before most people learned it existed.
The ladder was built to be seen in real time by a small group, then disappear. Its afterlife online became secondary, a record rather than the purpose. The fact that it still captured global attention speaks to how rare it is to see persistence, technical control, and personal meaning meet so cleanly.