Cai Guoqiang stages a fireworks display in the Himalayas of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on September 20, 2025. Photo: from web

Outdoor brand Arc'teryx and internationally renowned Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang issued apologies on Sunday after a fireworks display in the Himalayas in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Friday evening, co-organized by Arc'teryx and Cai, triggered an outcry among Chinese netizens over ecological concerns and cultural disrespect.

Local authority of Xigaze, Xizang Autonomous Region, also released a statement on its official WeChat account on early Sunday morning, saying that they have set up an investigation team that rushed to the scene for verification immediately, and will handle the matter in accordance with laws and regulations based on the verification results.

In a statement released on Sunday both on its official Weibo and WeChat accounts, Arc'teryx thanked the public for caring about the ecology of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. "We sincerely accept all criticism and suggestions, and we deeply respect your support," the brand said, adding that it offers the "sincerest apologies" for the show.

Cai also issued an official apology published on his studio's WeChat account, saying that "my studio and I attach great importance to this matter and, with a sense of reverence, humbly accept all criticisms regarding the implementation of artistic creation on the snowy plateau. We sincerely thank everyone for their concern and reminders. We acknowledge that there were indeed many oversights in our considerations, and I deeply apologize for this." 

The fireworks display, named "rising dragon," featured three sequences of fireworks ignited along the mountain ridge through gunpowder blasts on Friday evening. The event took place in Relong Township, Gyangze County, Xigaze. According to public information, Gyangze has an average altitude of over 4,600 meters.

Although the organizers had noted in advance that the fireworks were eco-friendly and would be cleaned up afterward, the performance nevertheless sparked controversy on Chinese social media platforms with many netizens raising their concerns about violating fundamental principles of ecological conservation. Following the mounting backlash, Cai and Arc'teryx have deleted related videos of the fireworks show.

Some netizens argued that the so-called eco-friendly materials were only "less polluting" compared with conventional products, but by no means having zero-impact. Others pointed out that the plateau's ecosystem is extremely fragile, "even a tire mark can take decades or centuries to heal, let alone such large-scale smoke and noise pollution," according to media reports.

Critics also denounced the performance as an act of cultural arrogance, noting that local traditions include reverence for mountain deities and taboos against loud explosions. Some further warned that the massive blasts could generate sound waves posing potential risks to glaciers already vulnerable due to climate change, possibly destabilizing ice masses, while also disturbing plateau wildlife.

In the statement, Arc'teryx said the company has committed to inviting third-party environmental organizations to conduct a thorough evaluation of the project's ecological effects. Based on the assessment results and feedback from the community, the company promises to implement timely and effective remedial actions.

"At the same time, we will accelerate our established environmental protection plans in Xizang region and fully promote public welfare projects that contribute to local cultural development," said the company.

Cai said in the statement that "we will proactively cooperate with third-party institutions and relevant departments to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impact this incident may have had on the natural ecology."

Specific measures include, but are not limited to, accepting in-depth inspections by independent agencies invited by the government. If any environmental impact is confirmed, we will spare no effort to implement remedial and restoration measures, Cai added in the statement.

Botanist Liu Gongshe said that given the ecological environment on the Plateau is extremely fragile, with slow-growing vegetation, and once the ecology there is damaged, it is extremely difficult to restore, often requiring decades or even centuries.

Gu Yourong, an associate professor at Capital Normal University, warned that this firework show, lasting less than an hour, could potentially cause multiple environmental impacts, although the brand and artists have apologized, the damage to vegetation, animals, and the ecological environment may have already been done.

This is echoed by a commentary article published by the People's Daily on Sunday, which called for an explanation from the follow-up investigation. "We look forward to the follow-up investigation addressing the public's questions: how the initial approval was granted and whether a scientific assessment was conducted. The investigation should comprehensively evaluate the ecological impact and provide a convincing explanation to everyone," it said.