u=1408926895,633897172&fm=23&gp=0.jpg (Photo : english.jschina.com.cn)
Beijing welcomed the Chinese Lunar New Year with less fireworks and cleaner air, according to the Beijing Municipal Environment Monitoring Center.
The monitoring group said that the average air quality PM2.5 reading from 6 p.m. on Thursday till midnight was between 140 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter. This shows an improvement from last year's New Year's PM 2.5 reading of more than 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, which is the highest level ever recorded in Beijing.
In lieu of setting-off fireworks, the Beijing municipal government encouraged the city residents to use electronic substitutes and even flowers for the Spring Festival celebrations. Many have heeded the call prompting the municipal government to release a public letter thanking its residents for the cooperation they had shown. The letter also asks for the city residents continued efforts to switch to "environment-friendly" habits.
The Spring Festival tradition of setting off firecrackers and fireworks is believed to drive away evil spirits and misfortunes. Due to Beijing's worsening smog problem over the past years, the authorities as well as the public expressed their concern over this tradition which markedly increases air pollution in the city during the holiday. The public's elevated concern for their city's air quality has resulted in slow sales for the city's firecrackers and fireworks retailers this year.
The city government has also cut the number of retailers licensed by the city to sell fireworks and firecrackers to just 1,178 stalls which is 12 percent less than 2012 figures.
This year, the city authorities have for the first time directed retailers to get the names and contact numbers of all individuals who purchase more than five boxes of fireworks. Retailers may refuse to sell fireworks or offer to sell fewer boxes to those who refuse to give the required information.
