Fireworks Spark Environmental Outrage in Tibet's Fragile Ecosystem

On September 19, 2025, a 52-second fireworks display in Tibet's Shigatse city sparked outrage over environmental damage. The display, created by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang and sponsored by the outdoor clothing company Arc'teryx, lit up the Himalayan slopes near Gyantse, forming a "rising dragon" of multicolored smoke against the snow-capped peaks.

However, the fireworks affected about 30 hectares of grassland, leaving behind plastic debris and firework remnants that were "not thoroughly cleaned," according to authorities in Tibet's Shigatse city. The incident caused "short-term disturbance to wild animals" and "damage to the soil and grass mat structure," the authorities said.

In response, China has dismissed four local officials, including the Communist Party secretary and public security chief of Gyantse county, along with two senior officials from county and city environmental agencies. Legal action has also been launched against Arc'teryx, the Canadian-owned outdoor brand that sponsored the event.

Cai's art studio, owned by Hong Kong-listed Anta Sports, has issued an apology and said it will work with local authorities to help with the area's recovery. Arc'teryx has also apologized, stating that the fireworks show was meant to celebrate mountain culture but was "out of line with Arc'teryx's values." The company has been ordered to compensate for the environmental damage and assist in restoration efforts.