Ancient city of Xi'an eases ban on fireworks
( 2003-12-01 16:55) (Xinhua)
Xi'an, the ancient capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province, will
ease to some extent its 10-year fireworks ban beginning early next year.
The provincial people's congress has passed an amended regulation on
fireworks, dividing the city areas into two categories, fireworks-banned zones
and fireworks-restricted zones. Previously, setting off of fireworks had been
banned thoroughly in the city.
According to the new regulation, nevertheless, fireworks are not allowed at
any time in and around key fire protection regions in the city and areas with
dense population density, such as government offices, schools, kindergartens, as
well as cinemas, bus and railway stations, gas stations and historical relic
protection areas.
In the fireworks-restricted regions, such as the new city area, the Forest of
Steles and the Dayan (wild goose) Pagoda site, fireworks can only be set off
during the Spring Festival holiday season for the lunar new year, which starts
from Jan. 22 next year.
Setting off of fireworks in China is a traditional ritual for dispelling and
scaring away evils or misfortune in the holidays. However, in recent years
firecrackers have been regarded far and wide as environmentally unfriendly and
detrimental, as people easily get hurt and fire easily spreads when setting them
off.
More than 100 cities around China, especially large ones, have banned
fireworks since the 1990s for environmental and safety reasons. But some cities,
such as Shenyang in northeastern Liaoning province, and Anyang and Nanyang in
central China's Henan province, have lifted the ban because of opposition from
local residents.
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