Fireworks plea falls on deaf ears

Despite a public appeal for residents to reduce the number of fireworks due to the already polluted air on Lantern Festival, the city still saw a relatively heavy bombardment of traditional pyrotechnics Sunday.

Wang Chao, who lives in Dongcheng district, said he would set off one box of fireworks on Sunday evening.

"It's a tradition to set off fireworks on Lantern Festival. It feels more like a festival with fireworks," he said.

But he admitted he had reduced the amount of fireworks over air quality concerns.

"I think one box is OK. With fewer fireworks, I can celebrate the festival and help with environment protection," he said.

Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) posted an appeal on its website Sunday morning, which reads, "It has been predicted that until tonight, the air condition means it will be difficult to disperse fine particles, so letting off fireworks is not recommended."

Some people thought the suggestion was ridiculous and made fun of it on microblog postings.

Yao Jinbo, CEO of 58.com, a life service platform, commented on his Sina microblog that "It has been predicted that until tonight, the dispersal condition for fine particles won't be obviously improved, so [I] suggest citizens reduce the times of breathing."

Gao Wei, a folklore expert and director of the Beijing Society of History and Geography, said although the exhaust from cars and industries should be mainly blamed for smog, the government should provide more guidance to the public so they can better enjoy the true spirit of the Lantern Festival.

"On Spring Festival Eve, fireworks have an important role in celebrating the festival, but the major feature of Lantern Festival is to appreciate beautiful lanterns and enjoy folk art performances," he said.

"If the government organizes more such activities, and encourages participation, fewer people would stay at home and set off fireworks," said Gao.

Younger people in the city do not feel so strongly about the tradition of Spring Festival fireworks.

Deng Shuang, 27, from Chaoyang district, said she would not join her parents when they go out to set off fireworks.

"It's enough to celebrate the festival and deliver best wishes to friends through text messages. Fireworks are dangerous and will worsen the smog," she said.

"But my parents light fireworks because they think it's festive, and it's tradition. I think the generations think differently on this issue."

According to a survey of 137 people by the Beijing News, 57 percent of Beijing residents set off fireworks during the Spring Festival in 2013, while 43 percent did not.

On Spring Festival Eve, the sale of fireworks decreased by 37 percent from last year's 410,000 boxes, reported the Xinhua News Agency on February 10.