China has been accused of spreading "fake news" after a video of a spectacular drone display was believed to be computer graphics.

The video of Shanghai's New Year's Eve display was shared around the world.

In the clip, up to 2,000 drones are seen lighting up as they fly into the sky spelling out the year 2020.

The drones also form various shapes and patterns including a "running man" and a countdown clock as they fly above the city's Huangpu River.

But many Chinese social media users have claimed that the drone display was completely fake, with many who gathered on the Bund to see in the new year saying they didn't see anything.

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A Reddit thread has opened on the Shangai subforum discussing the apparently fake display.

One commenter pointed to a YouTube video apparently capturing the New Year's Eve festivities live.

In the video, a large crowd is shown gathered on the Bund waterfront, with their mobile phones out to film the moment the clocks strike midnight.

As the new year begins, excitement rises among the spectators when the lights of Shanghai's Pudong skyscrapers – including the Oriental Pearl Tower – go out.

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But excitement turns to disappointment when the lights come back on a few seconds later as nothing actually happens.

When asked about the drone show, the person who shot the video replied: "No drones last night.

"Shame as it would have been cool to see. Not sure where the video came from but it appears to be the only video showing drones and has been reposted many times."

On the Chinese social media site Weibo, a video of drones flying over the city has also sparked similar confusion.

One user wrote: "Did I go to the wrong place? I was on the Bund!"

Another said: "There was really no celebration. This year's NYE was cold and heartless."

On Twitter, others claimed the display was fake.

Ex-pat Patrick Cox shared the video, writing: "This blows my mind because it's 100% Chinese fake news.

"We stood outside last night for a show that never happened lol."

Abraham Perez, who was also in Shanghai, tweeted: "I was in the Bund on New Year's Eve right in that time and nothing happened.

"All the drones display is fake."

One video posted on Weibo did show a drone show over the river, but it was dated December 29.

Chinese publication Shanghaiist speculated that the footage shared around the world was from a practice run which was carried out, but wasn't done on New Year's Eve.

The packaged footage was shown instead and shared by Chinese media.

This isn't the first time Chinese authorities have been accused of faking video footage.

In 2008, the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony used faked clips of its incredible fireworks display.

There have been tragedies during new year's celebrations in China before.

In 2015, a stampede on New Year's Eve in Shanghai killed 36 people.

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