Another Year Without a Bang: Beijing Reiterates Ban on Fireworks Within Fifth Ring

The Beijing Municipal Government recently reminded citizens that fireworks continue to be banned within the Fifth Ring Road this year, extending the all-out ban first announced in 2017 and quashing rumors that the ban would be lifted post-Covid.

The city made the announcement today in advance of the coming Chinese New Year holiday, which is traditionally a time for lighting off all manner of fireworks. Beijing was once a no-holds-barred free-for-all in terms of fireworks during Chinese New Year, but ever since the disastrous CCTV fire in 2009, the city has progressively tightened restrictions to what they are today.

The city said fireworks could only be used in specially designated areas outside the Fifth Ring, but good luck finding exactly where those areas are -- we called around to find out of we could tell you where exactly go to play pyromaniac, but failed to turn up any lists published in local media. Nor is there a handy list of where to buy fireworks, once a staple of local media coverage.

It’s also worth mentioning that everything from high-ordinance fireworks right down to hand-held sparklers are included in the ban.

With the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions this month, many netizens wondered if Beijing would relax fireworks restrictions as well. Aside from the fact fireworks have always been an essential tradition of Chinese New Year, many were wishfully hoping they would be able to commemorate the end of the pandemic years with the crackingling sound of fireworks over Chinese New Year.

However, no such luck.

For those who want to try their luck outside the fifth ring, bear in mind that the regulations on both retailing and setting off fireworks are quite restrictive. Our take is the city government intends to make it hard for everyone everywhere, and that it will be a quiet new year all around.

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