Xizang fireworks draw criticism, spur probe

Chinese visual artist Cai Guoqiang and outdoor brand Arc'teryx apologized on Sunday for staging a fireworks display in the Himalaya Mountains that drew widespread criticism over its potential impact on the Xizang autonomous region's high-altitude ecosystem. Local authorities have announced an investigation into the event.

On Friday, Cai ignited three sets of fireworks at an altitude of about 5,500 meters in Gyalze county in Xizang's second-largest city of Shigatse, as part of his art project, Ascending Dragon. The show, which was designed to symbolize vitality and auspiciousness in Chinese culture, used chemical elements the organizers claimed were biodegradable and verified by international tests during past events.

However, the video of the fireworks, which was released on Saturday, triggered a heated debate online, with critics questioning whether the fireworks disturbed wildlife, damaged vegetation, or polluted the high-altitude ecosystem.

In a statement posted on his official WeChat account on Sunday, Cai said that he and his studio have taken the public's concerns seriously and "humbly accept all criticism of our artistic creation".

"We indeed overlooked many aspects, and I deeply apologize," he said, pledging to work with local authorities and third-party agencies to assess the environmental impact of the show and, if necessary, take remedial measures.

Arc'teryx, which is owned by Finland-based Amer Sports and partly controlled by China's Anta Group, deleted the controversial video and also issued an apology for the branding activity, vowing to "sincerely accept all criticism and suggestions" and take corrective actions based on environmental assessments and public feedback.

Authorities in Shigatse announced on Sunday that a team has been formed to investigate the fireworks event. The team was sent to the site for verification, and follow-up actions will be taken based on probe results, and in accordance with laws and regulations, they said in a statement.

Earlier, the organizers of the show had said that precautionary measures were taken to protect the local environment, including relocating livestock and herders, guiding away small animals with salt, and restoring meadows and farmland immediately after the fireworks. They emphasized that the event was assessed as having the "lowest risk level" in terms of both noise and light pollution.

However, environmental experts questioned whether such precautions were adequate for one of the world's most vulnerable ecological zones.

"It's not scientific to use the smoke-testing result in low-altitude or urban environment as a reference for its impact on a high-altitude ecosystem," said Palden Tsering, an associate professor at Qinghai Minzu University.

The cold and arid conditions in the Himalayas and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are known to slow down any decomposition process, raising doubts on whether the so-called biodegradable chemicals actually disintegrated quickly, Palden Tsering said.

The expert also cautioned that fireworks residues might leach harmful chemicals into alpine meadows or water sources. "Such impacts may last for years and should have been considered beforehand."

The organizers' attempt to use salt feed to drive away animals already suggests that the fireworks display was likely to disturb local wildlife, he noted. "Salt bricks have no odor and are not conspicuous, making it difficult to imagine how they could effectively 'repel' small animals such as pikas," he added.

Gu Yourong, a council member of the China Wild Plant Conservation Association, explained the challenges involved in restoring alpine meadows if the fireworks actually caused damages.

"The topsoil on alpine meadows is just a 10-centimeter-thick turf layer. Once damaged, it cannot regenerate easily, because below it lies infertile rock debris. Vegetation could take decades — even centuries — to recover," Gu said.

Despite the apologies, many netizens called the fireworks display reckless, saying that it clashed with Arc'teryx's branding as a nature-respecting outdoor brand.

The company has seen rapid growth in recent years. According to Amer Sports' 2024 annual report, the brand's revenue surged 36 percent last year to reach $2.19 billion.

Media reports said an application for organizing the fireworks had been filed with the local ecology and environment bureau. Multiple government meetings were held in advance to study the site selection and assess nearby wildlife presence, according to the reports.

The final site did not fall within any ecological protection zone and had no residents living nearby, and so far, no ecological damage has been detected, a local official said.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn