When Art Backfires: Himalayan Fireworks Display Sparks Outcry, Official Investigation

Cai Guoqiang, known for his large-scale gunpowder installations, staged the event on September 19 in collaboration with outdoor brand Arc’teryx. The daytime performance involved three sets of colorful explosives ignited along a mountain ridge at an altitude of around 5,500 meters in Gyangze County of Xigaze, the second-largest city in Xizang. 　

The spectacle lit up not only the alpine meadows but also Chinese social media. Many netizens accused the artist and brand of harming Xizang’s delicate ecosystem and showing cultural insensitivity, as the mountains are considered sacred in Tibetan Buddhism. 　

In response to the backlash, both Arc’teryx and Cai issued public apologies on September 21. Cai stated that the fireworks were made of biodegradable materials and met pollution standards in Japan and Europe. 　

However, environmental experts pointed out that such standards, designed for urban settings, do not apply to high-altitude regions. The fragile alpine ecosystem lacks the microorganisms needed to break down those materials, meaning the degradation process could take decades or even centuries. 　

Scientists also noted that the explosions likely damaged the thin vegetation layer on the meadows, accelerating soil erosion that could take up to 50 years to recover naturally. Local wildlife, including Tibetan antelopes within several kilometers, were also believed to have suffered stress reactions due to the loud detonations. 　

On September 21, Xigaze authorities announced that an investigation team had been dispatched to the site. Their report was released on October 15, stating that the fireworks impacted a grassland area of 30.06 hectares, and that firework debris and plastic fragments were not fully cleared up, causing damage to the soil and grass mat structure. The intense bursts of light and loud noises also disturbed wildlife. A number of local officials have been punished.