Himalayan fireworks display sparks heated discussion, experts respond

According to Science and Technology Daily, on September 19, 2025, the outdoor brand pioneer brand Bird, together with artist Cai Guoqiang, ignited an artistic fireworks display "Rising Dragon" in the Jiangzi County of the Himalayas in Tibet. The team ignited three scenes of fireworks on a mountain ridge, creating a flying dragon-shaped landscape. This fireworks show quickly sparked controversy after being released online. Public opinion questioned whether the fireworks display would damage the environment in the fragile ecological region of the Himalayas. In response to these questions, journalists interviewed relevant experts. Botanist Liu Gongshe stated that the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the Asian water tower and one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, but the ecological environment is very fragile. Vegetation growth is slow, and once the ecology is damaged, it is extremely difficult to restore, taking decades or even hundreds of years to recover. Therefore, as a lesson from this incident, it is urged that the country strictly enforce the law to stop actions that harm the environment and that all sectors of society further enhance environmental awareness to protect our homeland on which we depend for survival. Gu Yourong, an associate professor at Capital Normal University, stated that the "highland fireworks display" of less than an hour could potentially cause various environmental impacts. The extent of the impact and whether it violates the law cannot be determined from the limited on-site photos and videos and requires detailed post-assessment and monitoring. However, in any case, this unnecessary performance infringes on the environment and natural resources that belong to the entire population, only satisfying the artist's desire for expression and the brand's publicity needs, which should be taken as a warning. Gu Yourong stated that although the brand and artist have apologized, the impact on vegetation, animals, and the ecological environment has already occurred, so fair evaluation and substantial remedial measures are more important.