Home Business China International Culture��Edu Sci��Tech Sports Life Travel P hotos ��Search China Observer �� New Occupations Expand in China �� Should foreigners be allowed to join China's civil service? �� Environmental protection at a crucial moment Photos �� Global notebook computer sales exceeded 48 million in 2004 �� Color light and ice light show in Daxing'an Range �� Clay rooster figure ��Home>>Life 100 Chinese cities lift 10-year firework ban www.chinanews.cn 2005-02-13 11:06:34 (Source��Agencies) Fireworks light up the sky over Victoria harbour in Hong Kong. Fireworks light up the sky over Victoria harbour in Hong Kong. Over 100 Chinese cities have lifted a 10-year ban on fireworks for the Lunar New Year holidays, China's most important holiday. More than 200 cities banned fireworks -- considered dangerous, noisy and polluting -- in 1995, ending the cacophony that traditionally erupted nationwide at midnight on Lunar New Year's Eve. But 106 have lifted the ban to bring more "atmosphere" to the holiday, the state's Southern Daily said Friday. Fireworks were widely used on New Year's Day on Wednesday and intermittently during the week-long holiday in major cities like Nanjing, Jinan, Beijing, Taiyuan and Lanzhou, the report said. In Beijing nearly 300 people were injured and one killed in fireworks accidents alone Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, state press reports said. Setting off fireworks is a long-standing tradition in China during the Lunar New Year holiday and based on the belief that the noise keeps evil spirits from passing over into the new year. E-mail: zhangqinghua@chinanews.com.cn Tel: 8610-88387443 Fax: 8610-68327649 Copyright� 2004 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Disclaimer: viewpoints in the website do not represent China News Service Learn Chinese, Chinesepod