Pollution fears dampen fireworks sale
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E-mail China Daily, February 7, 2014
The capital's fireworks authority said there were 1,178 fireworks stores in Beijing this year, a fall of 12 percent on last year.
A saleswoman in Wenxueguan Road in Chaoyang district said Spring Festival business had been sluggish this year.
"Few people came to buy," said the woman, who declined to be identified, adding that she had to offer discounts.
In addition to Beijing, residents in Shanghai received text messages from the local authorities suggesting they reduce fireworks spending during the holiday because of environmental and safety concerns.
"Air quality has been quite good in recent days without intensive fireworks in the downtown area," said 56-year-old Shanghai resident Li Yu.
The city's sanitation authority said workers cleared about 800 metric tons of waste from fireworks on Tuesday, about 20 percent less than last year.
In addition, Shanghai can expect to see sulfur-free fireworks next year, as manufactures have developed products with low emissions.
More Shanghai residents may choose to buy the new type of fireworks after serious smog hit the city recently, said Wu Guo'an, spokesman for the city's fireworks distribution association.
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