Was PM Modi Welcomed With a Drone Show in China? No, Image Is Edited

We were able to trace this image back to April 2025. It shows a drone light show in China's Chongqing.

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, an image is circulating on social media, claiming that China welcomed and greeted PM Modi with a drone show.

• The picture depicted drones creating the likeness of Modi’s face alongside the words ‘Modi Welcome To China.’

Who shared it?: X (formerly Twitter) user @mrsinha_ shared the viral image stating, "Unbelievable times we are living in." (sic)

• Team WebQoof has previously called out the user for spreading misinformation on social media. <<ADD LINK>>

(Archives of similar claims can be found here and here.)

Is the claim true?: No, the claim is false as the image is edited.

• We were able to trace the drone display featuring a dancing figure to April which took place in Chongqing, China.

What we found: At first, we ran a relevant keyword search to check whether such an event took place amid PM Modi's visit to China.

• However, we were unable to find credible reports or press releases to prove the validity of the image.

• We then ran a Google reverse image search on the viral picture which directed us to a report by China’s state-controlled Xinhua News Agency published on 20 April.

• The photo showed the dancing figure which was captured during a drone light display in the Nan’an District of Chongqing Municipality, located in southwest China, on 19 April.

• As per the report, the drone-light show debuted in the city and featured the iconic landmarks of Chongqing.

• Similarly, the Global Times's post on Facebook from 21 April also featured the original frame showing the dancing figure.

• It also noted, "A 15-minute drone light show featuring iconic landmarks of Chongqing made its dazzling debut on Saturday in the hilly city of southwest China, lighting up the night sky with a visual feast alongside the city’s vibrant lighting display." (sic.)

• We, then, compared the two images and found visible differences.

• Team WebQoof also ran the image on a fake image detector website which noted that it looked like 'computer generated or modified.;

Conclusion: The viral image was edited to add PM Modi's face and name on it. We were able to trace the original to April from China's Chongqing's district drone-light show.

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