By Sarah Begley
Earlier this summer, residents of Huiyu Island, China, witnessed a fireworks first that recently made waves online: a sparkling stairway to heaven, set ablaze from its base by artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The 1,640-ft. (500 m) structure was suspended from a helium balloon; once it was fully lit, as seen here, it burned for almost two minutes. Cai, whose previous attempts in Bath, England; Shanghai; and L.A. had failed, called the feat a “childhood dream” come true.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com