Hundreds of Fireworks Launched Directly at Me (And I’d Do it Again)

When I heard about this festival from a friend, I knew it was something I had to check out

It’s beautiful, chaotic, and LOUD.

A firework shower rained over us towards the end of Day 2 (Image by author)

Is This Real?!

I thought he was joking when he first told me about it.

It wasn’t until I watched a couple of YouTube videos that I accepted the truth.

The Beehive Fireworks Festival (鹽水蜂炮) happens annually on the 15th day of the lunar new year in Yanshui, a small town in southwest Taiwan.

The festival consists of two days of endless pyrotechnics launching from over 250 firework towers spread throughout the town, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Firework towers like these were set up around the town (Image by author)

It may seem a little insane, but it’s safer than one might think — a death has never been reported from the festival (though over in 2023).

While I admit there was a moment of reluctance when I was extended the invite, many of my favorite memories come from unique international festivals, and I assumed (correctly)…