Chinese fireworks take heavy toll

However, last year Beijing and several other cities eased the rules, restricting fireworks to certain parts of the city and for only a brief 30 minute period.

But few of Beijing’s residents seemed to follow the rules.

According to the Xinhua news agency city officials saw a surge in substandard fireworks on sale this year, confiscating 560 m this year, four times as many as were seized in 2006.