Are Fireworks Going to be Completely Banned from Beijing?

Beijing is thinking seriously about issuing a total, year-round ban on fireworks – meaning no more fireworks for Lunar New Year.

The local government is currently drafting a bill that could ban Beijingers from setting off fireworks anywhere within the Fifth Ring Road, Xinhua reports. The law currently states that fireworks are only allowed to be set off within the Fifth Ring Road during the Lunar New Year and Lantern festivals.

During Lunar New Year – China’s biggest holiday – it’s common for Beijing’s pollution levels to skyrocket because of the sheer amount of fireworks that are set off. During the past five years, there have been two to four heavy pollution days during the seven-day festival.

However, the potential ban aims to do more than curb the city’s smog problem. Since 2015, dozens of people were either injured or killed due to fireworks related injuries during Lunar New Year in Beijing.

According to a recent public opinion poll, 83 percent of participants support the ban. A similar ban has already been implemented in Shanghai.