Firework control improves Guangxi's air quality in holiday

The air quality in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was improved significantly during this year's Spring Festival holiday as stricter controls on fireworks helped reduce pollution.

The average concentration of PM2.5 between 7 pm on Feb 4 (Chinese New Year's Eve) and 6 am on Feb 5 (first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year), the peak time for air pollution as people set off fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate, dropped 54.9 percent from last year.

For the first time in five years, there was no severe or higher-level pollution during the Spring Festival holiday, according to the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The average PM2.5 density in 75 counties across the region decreased by 49.8 percent year-on-year to 129 micrograms per cubic meter, 48.3 percent higher than in urban areas.

Despite the improvement, the department will retain strict controls on fireworks during the Lantern Festival on Feb 19.