Most Dangerous Fireworks Festival in the World

Annually, the residents of Tainan City in Southern Taiwan gather together to hold an annual fireworks festival like no other. Held at the latter end of the Chinese New Year celebrations, the festival is also known as ‘Bee Hives’ as the pyro is fired from the ‘Beehive’ which contains literally thousands of bottle rockets stacked full of gunpowder.

As well as the fireworks, there are lots of other events and concession stands on offer which broadens the appeal of the event.

Originally started following a terrible cholera outbreak, killing thousands across the Country in the late 19th century. Locals used to visit the local temple to pray for relief from this terrible disease. They went on to ask the local ruling powers to set up a parade at the end of the Spring Festival, along with the route of which fireworks were lit in earnest. The plague was driven out and the locals laid this firmly at the feet of the procession and fireworks display and as such, the event has continued ever since.

What started out as a very small affair has grown into one of the biggest celebrations in the area and although as is apparent from the footage it is indeed quite dangerous, almost all of the people gathered are wearing helmets and full protective equipment, and appear to enjoy the experience a great deal.

The locals believe that it is good luck to be struck by a flying firework and there are even some religious extremists who take it to the next level wearing only a loincloth to be sure that they are hit and feel the pain which will give them good health and happiness for the forthcoming year.....Ouch.

They advertise it as being safe for children but personally, I would no more take my children and grandchildren to this type of event than fly them to the moon as there is a time and a place for kids to learn about firework safety, chemistry etc but standing in the street with them whipping past your ears is not really enforcing how to stay pyro safe.

I suppose that my living in a country that has a huge number of bonfire societies who make these boys look like amateurs (and the Sussex Bonfire societies have been on the go since the late 16th century) provided everyone is aware of the dangers and are free to leave whenever they wish or position themselves outside of the contact range I can't personally see what all the fuss relates to.

The video below shows what fun they had.