Chinese New Year 2018 will be remembered as Beijing’s quietest, perhaps for centuries, as the fireworks ban silenced the city center.

Prior to the night itself there had been speculation on social media that the ban would simply be ignored. However with fireworks shops having been ordered to close by the police, and the usual pop-up stalls not popping up, even getting hold of fireworks was a challenge. Sales were reported to be down over 80 percent, and 14,000 boxes of illegal fireworks were confiscated.

These efforts appear to have been successful, with beijingkids’ downtown reporters not hearing a single bang. The unusual quiet attracted international attention: the Jakarta Post reported it as “Beijing Bans Fireworks, Evil Spirits Rejoice”. Fireworks are traditionally believed to scare away a monster called Nian, although; as my children pointed out, since he’s scared of loud noises and the color red, he’s not exactly the most intimidating monster they’ve ever heard of.

The ban was part of a package of measures aimed at improving the city’s air quality, and they seem to have been successful so far, with 2017 being the best year for air quality in Beijing since records began in 2013. There is no reason to believe that the ban will be eased in future years.

Beyond the fifth ring road, though, it was pyrotechnic business as usual. In Shunyi there were impromptu displays on every street corner, with a particularly spectacular show on Anhua Dajie, outside the International School of Beijing (ISB).

Photo: Bridget Colla via Flickr

This is the rainy season. Every year at this time, I realize with a sharp intake of moist air, just how starved my body feels for those water-rich molecules of a coming rain. During Canadian summers, the heavy clouds constantly sweeping across the sky are filled with hydration rather than pollution. I miss it. During a recent thunderstorm in Beijing, this feeling was made potent through my kids.

My daughter (age 4) and son (2) have only known life in Beijing. Sure, we travel back to Canada once a year during the summer months, so they have experienced heavy summer rains, but their day-to-day reality is an urban one, in a dry climate, at a time in this city’s development when the air quality cannot be relied upon.
The early summer Beijing thunderstorm started at about 10pm. Both kids had long been asleep, but my son woke up, agitated and whimpering about twenty minutes into the storm.

“I’m scared, mommy!” he said, and so I naturally gathered him into my arms until he was calm again and then placed him back on his pillow gently.

“It’s just a storm,” I said. “Everything’s okay. It will pass.”

He reluctantly went back to sleep.

About an hour later, the storm had come closer and the rumbling thunder was more resonant. Its sound waves traveled through our apartment walls into the very fabric of our blankets. This time, I lay down beside him until he fell back to sleep, holding his little hand while reminding my weary self to be patient. He’s still so small, I thought.

Just before he fell asleep, he turned to me, opened his eyes and said this surprising sentence:

“Mommy, I don’t like fireworks.” Then he closed his eyes again and was asleep. I smiled at his perfect face. He had clearly not understood the word “storm.”

He’ll understand in the morning, I thought, when he sees that the rain has made everything wet outside.
When my daughter woke up an hour later, she was much more vocal about the situation. She got straight out of her bed and came to find me in mine, complaining loudly about the “fireworks” waking her up.

“Why do people play with fireworks, mommy? I don’t like loud noises, mommy! I’m scared!”

This is when it finally dawned on me that the sound of fireworks in Beijing is more natural for my kids than the sound of rain. They have only known fireworks to rumble and shake the house. And I don’t mean just at Chinese New Year; fireworks happen regularly in our mostly-Chinese compound at dawn (also waking them up) for marriages or other unexplained celebrations for which the obnoxious bang of several thousand RMB worth of explosives is “required.” Clearly, I’m not a fan. My kids have picked that up.

So, how do I explain to them that thunder is a great thing? That the sound of the sky rumbling (preceded by an awesome flash of lightning illuminating the night blackness for an instant) is a reminder that the Earth will soon be hydrated again. Nature will be greener, more alive, more replete. And, perhaps most importantly for Beijing, that the air will be cleaner after the rain?

The next day, when digging out our umbrellas and rubber boots, I told them, “Mother Nature has her own fireworks, kids. It’s called thunder. Sometimes it wakes us up, but it brings rain! And rain is fun! Let’s go jump in the puddles!”

They were thrilled. I’ll be reminding them of puddle jumping during the next Beijing thunderstorm. May it keep their fears at bay.

About the Writer
Ember Swift is a Canadian musician and writer who has been living in Beijing since late 2008. She and her husband Guo Jian (国囝), who is also a musician, have a daughter called Echo (国如一) and a son called
Topaz or “Paz” (国世龙).

This article originally appeared on page 42 of the 2016 June-July Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk

Fireworks, usually explosions of joy and cheer to ring in Chinese New Year, can unfortunately mean miserable nights for some dogs. To some extent this fear is genetic, but it’s also learned. Dogs bred and trained to flush out and retrieve game for a gunner cope well with these noises, as do police dogs. Some dogs aren’t capable of a comfort level with fireworks, but a lot can be done to make this fear less of a problem for any dog.

Dogs that are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks may pant, drool, pace, whine, try to escape, cower and shake or even destroy furniture and have housetraining accidents. It is very important to help your dog as soon as you see these fears appear so as to stop his/her fears from getting worse.

As in dealing with other things that frighten some dogs, your best approach is to work with your dog before you see any signs of fear.

Here are some tips to help your pup cope with all of the holiday festivities:

Get Him Used to the Snap, Crackle, and Pop!
Many dogs can be treated using behavioral methods called desensitization and counter conditioning to the loud noise.  This includes making fireworks and other loud noises fun and playing with your dog during the show.  Make a recording of loud noises or use a prerecorded fireworks show. While doing something your dog enjoys – eating, playing fetch, etc., play the recording, softly at first, then increase the sound as your dog becomes accustomed to the sounds.  Don’t increase the recording too quickly, make sure your dog is not scared during the game.  Remember – Loud noise = Fun!

Create a Safe Haven
The right confinement area is important during fireworks, especially when the family cannot supervise the dog. This is even more critical for the phobic dog. Dogs tend to like dark, quiet and enclosed areas in which to rest. Many dogs will hide in a closet or under the bed – this works well as long as there is nothing harmful in the area or anything the dog might destroy.

To create a safety zone that you can supervise, you may either utilize a small room or his favorite crate.  An interior bathroom, one that doesn’t have windows, makes a safe place.  Many dogs prefer finding security in their enclosed crates: a small “zen” comfort zone.  The aim is to minimize the amount of noise entering the hideout room from outside and the dog must not see the flashes of the fireworks as they explode, so close the windows and use heavy curtains to darken the room.


Place lots of blankets for your dog in which he can dig and burrow. Include an old, unwashed piece of clothing like a woolly sweater so that your dog can smell your scent and feel comforted by your indirect 
presence.

Leave a few special chews and things for your dog to eat in the hiding place in case your dog fancies something chewy to reduce his tension. However, don’t be alarmed if he does not seem interested in them during the actual fireworks – some dogs are simply not interested in treats at times like this!

This designated hiding place must be accessible to your dog at all times.  Get your dog used to going to the hiding place 2-3 times each day during the run up to a fireworks display by taking him there and giving him some food or a favorite chew. This will help the dog to understand that this is a good place to go to.

As soon as the fireworks display starts, lead your dog to the hiding place and encourage him to stay there.

The Calm Before the Storm
If you know that there is a fireworks display coming in the next few hours, give your fearful dog some good, vigorous exercise. Take him for a nice, long walk or jog. An exercised body can sometimes wear the mind out, so the dog will be too tired to be afraid.

It is also a good idea to make sure that your dog has emptied his bladder an hour before the display starts.

Don’t leave a dog outdoors alone when someone is going to use fireworks. Besides the risk of a fear being created in the dog, many dogs will flee a fenced yard in panic and become lost.

Party Time! Drown Out the Noise
Moderately loud rhythmic music with a good beat is an effective way to mask the firework noises from outside. White noise also works well to mask unwanted sounds, so turn on the radio between stations or play the TV on an off station. Putting a hi-fi system in the room and keeping the volume at a loud but comfortable level can help calm your dog.  If using a bathroom area, you can also utilize the exhaust fan to drown out the noise.

Don’t Give in to the Sad Puppy Eyes And have a Good Time
It is tempting to try to soothe your dog to relieve his fears, but this is the worst thing you can do. It gives your dog the impression that there is something to be frightened of, and may even reward him for being scared, reinforcing his fear and anxiety.  Also, if your dog comes to think of you as the only person who can soothe the fears then he may panic if there are fireworks when you aren’t around to help.

As hard as it may be, ignore your dog when he is looking frightened and only show attention and affection when he has begun to relax. Act happy and confident, and then you may reward your dog for confident behavior. The best thing is to show leadership and use calm assertive energy, but not to pet him, talk to him in a baby voice, or to show him attention while he is in an anxious state.

Ignore the noises yourself and if your pet is only mildly fearful you could try to engage your pet in some form of active game. Try to appear upbeat, happy and unconcerned. Food treats work with greedy dogs, and games that your dog love may be even more powerful in helping the dog mentally tune out the noise. It may help if you play a game with another pet in the household, because the frightened one may be tempted to join in.

If your pet is very frightened by the noises and cannot be encouraged to play, then lead him to the refuge you have created.


A Little Calming Remedy
Herbal and naturopathic calming remedies do exist for dogs, such as Serene-UM and Calmex. These are all natural organic proteins that are safe and can be very effective in inducing a mellow and calm state.  They come in tablet or liquid form and can be given a few days before the fireworks to allow your pet to adapt to this herbal remedy.  They may be used under the guidance of your ICVS veterinarian.

Extreme Cases
For those dogs that may be dangerously destructive to themselves or to others, a veterinarian can help with your behavior modification program and can determine whether or not prescription medication is appropriate.

Pet Identification and Microchipping to Reunite Lost Pets
Each year, the Public Security Bureau reports picking up hundreds of lost dogs that ran away during the noisy fireworks displays. Many of these dogs are never reunited with their families as they have no identification. Dogs and outdoor cats should all have an ID tag on their collar for easy identification and should be microchipped to verify ownership. ICVS can help to custom engrave pet ID tags with the mobile number of the owner and can help to microchip your pets at out-patient appointments. Please contact ICVS for more information.

Please contact ICVS with any questions and to learn more about effective and safe naturopathic calming remedies and microchipping and ID tags for pets:

International Center for Veterinary Services    
13-16 Rong Ke Gan Lan Cheng Shang Jie, Fu Tong Xi Da Jie
Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100102
Tel: (010) 8456-1939/1940
Fax: (010) 8456-1940
Email: ICVS_CHINA@yahoo.com
Web site: www.ICVSASIA.com

Photo: Reviewjournal.com

The celebration known as Chinese New Year has drawn to close tonight with one last round of fireworks. There have been a few nights of fireworks, but this year has been very tame compared to every other year.

One big reason was that, for Changping, there was a strong effort to curtail the annual displays by connecting them to the air pollution that now everyone wants to talk about. Only a few years ago, Beijingers insisted to us that what we were seeing was mist, not smog. Now, though, even school children know about PM 2.5.

Around Changping, the subway and our apartment complex had posters like these to remind us of the health hazards. The campaign to control the pyrotechics was stepped up this year, which, in our early years in Changping, have been a free-for-all.

The night before Spring Festival, Chinese New Year’s Eve, we heard the slow building of noise from just after dark until the midnight crescendo. It wasn’t as wild as we have ever seen, but it was still impressive to us. We were surprised that by around 1 am, they had stopped. Back in the day, as they say, it went until the wee hours.

The kids dozed in turns, and Brigid was awake again at midnight to see this.

As much as I obsess about air quality here, I must confess that I have been dubious about the impact of one night of fireworks on the AQI. However, the data seemed to contradict my willful blindspot. I love fireworks, and Chinese New Year is such a treat for me. However, I would gladly give it up for better air.

As has been our custom, we waited until the fifth day to buy our own fireworks. We were shocked to find that the venders’ stalls were all shuttered and locked up by then. It was disappointing that we were not able to buy fireworks this year, to say the least.

This evening, though, we were over that, and just enjoyed the last night of the Spring Festival. It seemed that everyone else in Changping was aware of the limited purchase time this year and stocked up. Some really fantastic, large fireworks greeted the full moon.

This post first appeared on Jennifer Ambrose’s site on March 6, 2015.

Jennifer Ambrose hails from Western Pennsylvania and misses it terribly. She still maintains an intense devotion to the Pittsburgh Steelers. She has lived in China since 2006 and is currently an at-home mother. With her husband Randy and children Myles and Brigid, she resides outside the Sixth Ring Road in Changping, northwest of Beijing.

Photos: Jennifer Ambrose

When we moved to Beijing in 2008, people warned us to get out of the city for Chinese New Year. Take a trip to a beach; go home; anything but stay in the capital. Why? Because of the all fireworks. Despite the dire warnings of endless fireworks for 15 days, we decided to stay put. Personally, I was intrigued. All but the simplest fireworks are banned in my hometown and firecrackers were illegal when I was growing up there. So the notion that I could buy rockets or that the neighborhood would be filled with them sounded great.

Beijing did not disappoint. For two weeks, every night they could be seen across the city, but on New Year’s Eve, Day 5, and the final night, being outside was akin to walking through World War III. I loved it. Having half the population out of town and the reduced traffic was merely a bonus.

In recent years, the effort to clean up Beijng’s air quality has drastically reduced the amount of fireworks being used to ward off evil spirits and ring in the new year. Once again, we stayed in Beijing and although the New Year’s Eve display was impressive on the run up to midnight, and day 5 provided a fair amount of show, the rest of the holiday was largely quiet in our neighborhood and the second week has been all but silent. Even my Chinese friends were telling me they didn’t bother buying fireworks this year because of their concerns for the air pollution.

Basically, I think this squashes the argument for leaving town because of all the noise and pollution. Beijing is pleasant during the holiday. Sure, some restaurants are closed and it is a good idea to call ahead before venturing out to some venues, but plenty stays open and traffic is never lighter. Next year, you might even find yourselves, as we did, seated in a restaurant with a view where the kids can “oh and ah” at the fireworks while they await their dinner. That is, unless the fireworks get banned altogether.

Photo: Storyvillegirl (Flickr)

Seem quiet this holiday season? Clearly the bang and boom of previous Spring Festival celebrations is a bit tamer this year, as almost 38 percent fewer fireworks have been sold for the Year of the Horse, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.

The dip has been attributed both to an economic slowdown, but also to city government efforts to control the use of fireworks to rein in air pollution in the capital. Our friends at Shanghaiist did a story a few days ago about 41 tons of fireworks trash produced by all the festivities, but that link is broken now. Still, that sounds like a lot of trash we don’t really need, holiday or not.

The good news is that fireworks-related injuries also seem to be down, by 34.5 percent this year. "There were no reports of deaths or loss of eyes," Xinhua said. Well, that’s good. "Local police received 7.4 percent fewer reports of fires caused by fireworks than a year ago," Xinhua reported. We’re not sure if that means that a relatively small number of fires dipped even more, albeit slightly, or if there are still quite a few fires even though fireworks sales were down significantly.

Beijing Boyce and Grape Wall of China founder and the Beijinger local beer, wine, and spirits contributor Jim "Beijing" Boyce harkened back to 2007 as "arguably the best Chinese New Year fireworks [video] of the past 5,000 years." The Olympics are past now, and so is the tidal swell of fireworks, it seems.

This post first appeared on theBeijinger website on February 7, 2014.

Photo courtesy of Anthony Wang (Flickr)

On the week of Chinese New Year and in the days to follow, expect to hear firecrackers go off well into the middle of the night. No, your fortress is not being attacked, although it certainly sounds that way. Coming from a long line of tradition, the loud bangs from firecrackers are thought to fend off evil spirits and ghosts. Although, the noise will probably be more successful at frightening the uninitiated than warding off bad luck. If this is your first time spending Chinese New Year in China, brace yourself for a week of uneasy living.

Fireworks remain a contentious issue in the Capital. Efforts were made in the past to ban fireworks, but most attempts have been relatively short term. Although now with the monitoring of air pollution levels there is a chance there will be no fireworks being set off if the days reported are either orange or red, find out more here. In 1988, the National People’s congress restricted the production and display of fireworks. In 1993, the Beijing government went further, by banning fireworks altogether. Due to the public outcry and continued disregard for the fireworks ban, it was officially lifted on September 9, 2005.

So if you intend on purchasing or partaking in any events where sparklers and fireworks will be present, keep some of these basic tips in mind (even if it seems like you’re the only one following them!)

Basic tips:
– Hold sparklers at an arm’s length away. After the flame goes out, put it in water. Many trash cans have been burned, due to misplacing of sparklers
– Never go near a firework that has been lit.
– Only allow adults to handle fireworks.

For a more intensive guide to how to handle mini explosions with care, check out the ehow website, where ”Joe,” a fire captain, will give demonstrations on how to handle sparklers and fireworks safely.

This post has been slightly modified with the latest development in regards to fireworks. It first appeared here on February 10, 2010. 

Photo courtesy of anthony wang (flickr).

For the second year in a row in Beijing, an index measuring pollution produced by the ignition of fireworks will be added to the daily meteological forecast to state whether citizens are legally allowed to set off these annual holiday traditions, a policy that effectively clamps down on the use of fireworks in Beijing.

The regions of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province will coordinate their efforts by simultaneously broadcasting daily reports twice a day until February 14 while other efforts will be taking place nationwide. This "firework index" will be separated into four category levels by which the highest classification will indicate fireworks are not permitted to be set off whatsoever.

Also working to reduce the use of fireworks is the Department of Culture for Beijing. The department has been suggesting citizens take a proactive role in protecting the environment, and urge city residents to not to set off fireworks nor to burn paper offerings, actions that the Ministry of Environmental Protection confirms as contributing to pollution and PM 2.5 emissions.

As socially-conscious as these efforts are, these protocols fly in the face of age-old tradition. Some city residents are adamant that firecrackers are integral towards the holiday spirit of Spring Festival festivities, and that it is impossible to break a tradition that is passed down from one’s ancestors. It would appear this "War on Chinese Christmas" is a violation upon Chinese culture itself.

Lest we forget, the Chinese New Year tradition of making loud noises and coloring everything a festive hue of red originates from fear. As the myth goes, a monster called the "Nian" – the same name as the Chinese word for year – was terrorizing the populace with its evil, non–Chinese ways. When a brave man who knew how to party advised the use of loud noises and bright, festive colors to drive away this evil, and a tradition was born. Thereafter, it has become a common belief that setting off fireworks at Chinese New Year will ensure good fortune for the upcoming year.

 Read more here.

This post first appeared in theBeijinger on January 27, 2014.

Photo courtesy of anthony wang (flickr)

There is something magical about spending Chinese New Year (CNY) in Beijing. Sure, you could travel to a warm beach someplace and frolic in the surf and sand (sounds lovely), but you would miss all the festivities enjoyed by those stalwart Beijingers who remain here in the capital.

Of course, CNY is a great time to gather with your Chinese and foreign friends to play games, eat great food, and just hang out, but it is also a time for temple fairs, chair skating on city’s lakes and ponds, and enjoying fireworks.

If memory serves, this will be our sixth year in Beijing for the holiday. Although Savvy and the kids still prefer to enjoy the fireworks from behind the comfort of a good window, I make a point of venturing out into the streets to soak up the chaos that ensues for a night or two (the best nights are typically the first few and the last night of the holiday.

If you have not experienced the fireworks in Beijing before, take a moment and recall all the fireworks you have seen in your lifetime. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Now, picture them going off all at once.

If you grew up in a small town in the USA like me, it would not even come close to the cacophony of light and noise that breaks out at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It is simply staggering the amount of money that Beijingers will spend on their fireworks and it is easy to stand nearby and watch as a few families light up the night sky in your own neighborhood.

So if recently arrived in the capital, couldn’t get away, or simply wish to experience a part of the local culture, look up at midnight on New Year’s Eve. If you do venture outside, you might want to take along some earplugs; they help prevent any unwanted ringing as you ring in the New Year.

 Photo courtesy of mastermaq (Flickr)