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Festival fireworks sales down 32 pct in Beijing

Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sales of fireworks around Spring Festival in Beijing fell 32 percent this year as environmentally conscious residents abandoned traditional celebrations of the most important holiday.

A total of 195,000 cases of fireworks were sold in the 11 days to Feb. 23, the fireworks administration office of the Beijing municipal government said Wednesday. Lunar New Year fell on Feb. 19 this year.

Smog in the capital has been the subject of public outcry in the past two years and fireworks can lead to spikes in air pollution readings.

In Beijing, the official firework sales period was shortened from 20 to 11 days this year and the number of licensed retail outlets was cut down by 20 percent.

The city missed its pollution target last year and more stringent efforts are promised this year.

Setting off fireworks during at New Year is a tradition in China, with the light and sound claimed to scare away evil spirits. In more recent years, fireworks bring a festive atmosphere to the country's most important holiday.

Air pollution reached "dangerous levels" in 106 Chinese cities at the height of the celebrations. Endi