Throwback Thursday: Don't Expect a 2008-Style Fireworks Orgy in Beijing This Spring Festival

Fireworks usage in Beijing is expected to decline once again this Spring Festival, a trend that shows a radical departure from just nine years ago, when it was fully expected that every resident of Beijing would be blowing shit up, living in what amounted to a war zone of fireworks that would last all night – if not all night and day for two weeks straight.

A combination of factors –  increased air pollution awareness, increased injuries, and a notorious 2009 fire that took down part of the new CCTV Tower complex –  has resulted in increasing regulations to restrict the practice within the city limits, and indications are that urban residents are growing weary of the centuries-old tradition.

Back in 2008, a giddy Beijing on the eve of hosting the Olympics was in full celebration mode, and the main topic of discussion around fireworks was the amazing variety on sale. Writer Cecily Huang detailed how that year featured "a broader variety of fireworks, with more than 80 new kinds of crackers to choose from" including the Olympic-themed Aoyun Beijing firework (a video for which can be viewed here) and other ear-popping selections.

Now, nearly ten years later, a massive dip in sales might make things seem less festive, but will surely keep fresher air in our lungs and prevent equallying troubling ringing in our ears.

Increased limits on the sale of fireworks has been one way Beijing has been dealing with excessive fireworks usage, paired with a consistent message of not overdoing it at this time of year.

Air pollution awareness certainly has a lot to do with it as well. It took a lot of Big Data to convince people that their individual fireworks use could contribute to the city's air pollution problem, but the message, seems to be sinking in. A recent poll by the Legal Daily indicated that 82.9 percent of Beijingers have no intention of setting off fireworks this year. A similar poll last year showed 76.5 percent did not intend to use fireworks.

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An editorial in the Legal Daily even went so far as to say that those that feel fireworks are an essential component of celebrating Chinese New Year obviously don't understand the real meaning of the Spring Festival.

This year, fireworks usage within the Fifth Ring Road is restricted to between the dates of January 27 and 28 (all day) and January 29 through February 11 from 7am to midnight. Fireworks usage will be completely restricted if an Orange or Red Alert is declared, although neither has been issued for the coming days yet.

As for now though, it looks like New Year's Eve (January 27) and New Year's Day (January 28) will have the highest levels of pollution, which is also when the most fireworks are bound to be set off, adding to an already high AQI.

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Photo: China Smack, The Times, Xinhua