It's Taiwan's answer to Spain's Running of the Bulls.
Tens of thousands of adrenalin seekers converged on Yenshui, Tainan County on Tuesday night for its annual fireworks festival, taking extreme sport to an explosive level.
More than 70 people were injured and two bush fires were reported.
PHOTO: GRAHAM NORRIS, TAIPEI TIMES
Participants, wearing motorcycle helmets and various configurations of body armor, crowded in front of "bee-hive" launchers from which barrages of bottle rockets were fired.
Once the racks of explosives were lit they overwhelmed the senses with noise, fire and smoke.
The most daring crowd members stood only a few meters from the launchers and withstood the pelting of rockets bouncing off of their bodies.
"We're all going to die!" shouted one crowd member just prior to a launcher's release.
The "cluster bomb" effect of the barrage left few of the participants unscathed. Crowd members frequently patted down the small flames left burning on their fellow enthusiasts.
Ambulances were a common sight throughout the night, driving through walls of smoke to tend to the event's victims.
Medics said, however, they doubted the large number of injuries was due to the "bee-hive" launchers.
Whatever the risks, few seemed to let that stand in the way of a chance to experience the war-zone atmosphere.
"It hurt a bit, but not bad. You expect a little bruise or two," said Youwin Bellamy from England, whose leather jacket was pierced by a stray rocket.
For those willing to brave the chance of injury, entry to the sporting festival doesn't require a large investment. Attendance is free and equipment is cheap.
On-site vendors sell everything needed to suit up. Ear plugs and protective gloves are available and motorcycle helmets can be purchased for about NT$150.
The festival began as a ritual to rid the town of a plague in the 19th century and is re-enacted annually. Being hit by a projectile is considered auspicious.
The event takes place 15 days after the start of each Lunar New Year.
with additional reporting by staff writer
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