Justice
How Smog Is Putting a Damper on Chinese New Year
The festivities will be a bit quieter this year as cities put restrictions on the long-held tradition of setting off fireworks.
Chinese New Year, which falls on February 8, is going to be a little quieter and a bit less jubilant this year as Chinese cities ban fireworks to combat the country’s increasingly dire smog problem.
Shanghai in particular has, for the first time ever, banned all fireworks the inner-city areas surrounding what’s called the Outer Ring Road. The police have recruited more than 300,000 volunteers to enforce the rules, and violators can face up to $75 in fines.