On September 19 at 4 p.m., a spectacular fireworks show called “Rising Dragon” lit up the sky over the Tibetan Plateau near Gyantse County in Shigatse. The display, a partnership between outdoor brand Arc’teryx and Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang, felt like a tribute to the region’s natural beauty but left a trail of damage that could last decades.
More than 1,000 fireworks burst against a backdrop of towering Himalayan peaks. They formed a dragon‑shaped cascade of bright smoke and fire between elevations of 4,670 m and 5,020 m. The event lasted just 52 seconds, yet its impact was far larger than the brief spectacle.
A Shigatse municipal investigation team found that the fireworks harmed 30.06 hectares (about 74 acres) of fragile grassland. The blast flattened the soil, crushed the turf layer, and created muddy tracks for people and vehicles. Years after the event, leftover firework fragments, plastic debris, and soot still litter the slopes. The bright flashes and loud noises also shocked local wildlife and temporarily disrupted their habitat.
The damage runs beyond the environment. For Tibetans, the mountains are more than high peaks; they are sacred sites that house protective deities in Tibetan cosmology. Using dragon imagery—an icon deeply linked to Chinese nationalism—on these sacred lands felt culturally insensitive to many locals.
Experts warn that the Tibetan Plateau is warming twice as fast as the global average. Glaciers retreat, permafrost thaws, and grasslands continue to erode, threatening water supplies for millions downstream. In this context, the fireworks event is seen as a dangerous stunt that undercuts genuine efforts to protect the fragile ecosystem.
The “Rising Dragon” incident highlights the tension between China’s public message of ecological stewardship and the reality of short‑term spectacles that damage the environment. The event serves as a reminder that proving respect for nature requires more than fireworks; it demands active, lasting protection for the plateau’s grasslands and sacred mountains.
Source: ianslive
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