**Fireworks in Himalayas Spark Outrage; Artist Issues Apology**
*By Snehil Singh | Sep 22, 2025, 06:09 PM*
Outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx has issued an apology following a controversial fireworks display staged in the Himalayas. The event, named “Rising Dragon,” was held at a plateau approximately 5,500 meters above sea level in Shigatse, Tibet. Arc’teryx collaborated with renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang—known for his work on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games’ fireworks—to create the vibrant mountaintop display, which Cai described as resembling a dragon.
Despite the artistic intent, the event sparked significant backlash on Chinese social media due to concerns over its environmental impact.
**Official Response and Investigation**
In response to the controversy, the Shigatse local government has launched an official investigation. The city’s Communist Party committee emphasized the seriousness of the issue and formed a dedicated team to look into the incident.
Arc’teryx, originally founded in Canada and acquired by an Anta Sports-led consortium in 2019, publicly apologized on Weibo and Instagram. The brand acknowledged that the fireworks display contradicted their commitment to preserving outdoor environments and pledged to involve a third-party environmental organization to assess the ecological impact.
**Artist Cai Guo-Qiang’s Apology**
Cai Guo-Qiang also issued an apology on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. He admitted that “several areas failed to be taken into account properly” during the planning and execution of the event. Cai promised full cooperation with authorities in evaluating the ecological consequences and committed to implementing stricter environmental measures in future projects.
However, despite these apologies, Chinese state media criticized Arc’teryx for inconsistent statements about third-party involvement in environmental assessments on different platforms.
**Social Media Reaction**
On Weibo and other platforms, users have expressed outrage and demanded accountability not only from Arc’teryx but also from the officials who approved the fireworks display. The Global Times highlighted these public concerns, reporting calls for stronger repercussions, including suggestions to “arrest all those who have passed the approval process.”
Many users pointed out the irony of using artistic displays—which can promote environmental awareness—while simultaneously causing harm to nature.
—
This incident underscores the growing sensitivity toward environmental issues in China and the increasing scrutiny of corporate and artistic activities in ecologically vulnerable areas.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/fireworks-in-himalayas-spark-outrage-forcing-outdoor-brand-to-apologize/story