A number of cities and regions in China have imposed stricter rules on the use of fireworks ahead of the Lunar New Year. The rules now require buyers to register their personal information and have reduced the number of retailers.
In Shanghai, authorities have allowed only seven retail outlets to sell pyrotechnics starting Monday over safety concerns. The same is now being done at Xi'ning City, which also covers Hui people and Tibetans.
Meanwhile, authorities in Xinjiang require customers to register their real names when purchasing firecrackers. They have also banned online and mobile sales through the WeChat app. The number of retail outlets dropped from 600 to 500.
Central Henan Province has banned the use of fireworks in all cities and towns. While Hebei's Boading City has threatened to detain anyone who will be setting of pyrotechnics outside four days of celebration.
In Beijing, the number of retailers have been reduced to 511, which is 29 percent lower from last year. Authorities will also be looking out for the air pollution alert. If it reaches red or orange, the delivery and sale of fireworks will be suspended.
Lighting firecrackers and fireworks has been part of the tradition in celebrating the Spring Festival. It is believed that the noise scares off evil spirits and bad luck.
In light of the worsening smog problem, China has decided to impose these stricter regulations.
"Worsening pollution will engulf four norther Chinese provinces, including Hebei Province which surrounds Beijing, in the run up to the Lunar New Year, from Monday through to Thursday," said China's National Environment Monitoring Center on its official WeChat account.
While it is expected that there will be reduced industry activity and traffic during the festive period, the use of pyrotechnics could push levels higher by one or two grades in certain areas.
It may seem that reducing or banning the fireworks during the festivities will go against Chinese tradition. But with China's smog problem, fireworks can be traded off for clean air.