A fireworks display staged in Tibet’s Himalayas has sparked widespread criticism, forcing Canadian outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx to issue an apology.
The “Rising Dragon” display, designed by artist Cai Guo-Qiang, lit up the mountains near Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city, on Friday. The event took place at an altitude of 5,500 metres and was promoted online with dramatic visuals of fireworks forming the shape of a dragon.
The stunt drew swift condemnation on Chinese social media, with millions criticizing the environmental damage to a fragile region. On Sunday, local officials confirmed an investigation had been launched. “The Shigatse party committee and government take the matter seriously and have set up an investigation team,” officials stated on WeChat.
Arc’teryx, headquartered in Canada but owned by China’s Anta Sports since 2019, posted apologies on both Weibo and Instagram.
“This event was in direct opposition to our commitment to outdoor spaces, who we are, and who we want to be for our people and our community. We are deeply disappointed that this happened and apologize, full stop,” the brand said in its statement.
