Beijingers will spend the coming New Year and Spring Festival blissfully free from the noise of fireworks, as Beijing will continue its 11-year-old policy of banning fireworks from the city's downtown areas.

Over the past few months, illegal sale and storage of fireworks, which are mostly fake or substandard, have again surfaced on the outskirts of Beijing, as the New Year approaches.

The Beijing municipal government has intensified their investigation into illegal sale, transportation and storage of fireworks.

In addition, residents have been urged to set off fireworks only in the areas where such activities are legal.

(CRI December 10, 2003)