Holiday fireworks lose their sparkle amid smog

Public enthusiasm for fireworks seems to be fizzling out in the face of concerns over air pollution, with many people posting online messages calling for restraint in celebrations during Spring Festival.

Posts are circulating on Chinese social media platforms, including Sina Weibo and WeChat, calling for people to scale back on the use of fireworks during the holiday, which runs from Jan 31 to Feb 6. Many have greeted the posts favorably.

"Fighting against sooty air is the responsibility of every resident," said Peng Xiao, a 32-year-old resident in Beijing's Chaoyang district. "You can't blame the government for the air quality while making things worse yourself."