Beginning early next year, Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province, will, to some extent, ease its 10-year fireworks ban.

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, fireworks were banned throughout 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 high 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 January 22 next year.

Setting off fireworks is a traditional Chinese ritual for dispelling and scaring away evils or misfortune during holidays. However, in recent years firecrackers have been regarded as environmentally unfriendly and detrimental, as people easily get hurt and fire spreads fast once the crackers are lit.

More than 100 cities around China, especially large ones, have banned fireworks since the 1990s on environmental and safety grounds. But some cities, such as Shenyang in northeastern Liaoning Province, and Anyang and Nanyang in central Henan Province, have lifted the ban because of opposition from local residents.

(eastday.com December 2, 2003)