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China fires four local officials and launches legal action against Canadian-owned outdoor brand fireworks show in TibetOutcry spread over environmental damage to high-altitude grasslands.
The 52-second display – created by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang and sponsored by outdoor clothing company Arc’teryx – lit up. Himalaya Slopes near Gyatse in Shigatse city, Tibet on September 19.
Videos of the show shared widely on Chinese social media showed a column of multicolored smoke forming the shape of a “soaring dragon” in front of snow-capped peaks.
Authorities in Tibet said the fireworks affected about 30 hectares of grassland, leaving behind plastic debris and fireworks residue that “were not completely cleaned up,” officials in Tibet’s Shigatse city said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said the demonstration caused “short-term disturbance to wild animals” and “damage to soil and grass mat structure”.
Officials said the incident was a “human-induced disturbance in a high-altitude ecologically sensitive area”, noting that while direct damage was limited, continued monitoring would be required to assess long-term ecological risks.

State media reported that those removed from office included the Communist Party secretary and the public security chief of Gyatse County, as well as two senior officials from county and city environmental agencies.
According to, local discipline inspectors have also launched an investigation against the county governor tibet reviewwhich called the case “a rare example of environmental accountability in Tibet”.
Kai’s art studio, owned by Hong Kong-listed Anta Sports and best known for directing fireworks at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, also issued an apology and said it would work with local authorities to help restore the area.
Founded in Vancouver in 1989, Arc’teryx has built its reputation around conservation and outdoor ethics. The brand operates over 150 stores worldwide, including the UK.
Arc’teryx and Kai are ordered to repair the environmental damage and assist in restoration.
Arc’teryx apologized after the backlash, saying that the fireworks show was meant to celebrate mountain culture, but that it was “not in line with Arc’teryx’s values”.
It added that the materials used are biodegradable and the company will work with an external agency to assess the environmental impact.
According to Chinese media, investigators found that the demonstration was approved by county officials without review. The investigation revealed that 1,050 firecrackers were used at an altitude of 4,670 to 5,020 meters in an area recognized as one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.