As the Spring Festival holiday wraps up, Chinese people have
spent the national week-long holiday in a peaceful and delighted
atmosphere.
"It's the best Spring Festival I have ever had in a decade. The
splutter of firecrackers has delivered a Chinese New Year with
stronger traditional flavor, but it is also the safest New Year
festival," said a local resident surnamed Guo in Dongcheng District
of Beijing.
Responding to the public request, Beijing lifted a 13-year-old
ban on firecrackers this year, allowing residents to set off
firecrackers and fireworks in designated areas.
The number of small fires caused by firecrackers rose slightly
compared with last year, but no big fire, death or serious injury
were reported as of Thursday, said Li Wei, head of the Beijing
Municipal Office for Firecrackers Management.
Li ascribed the satisfying safety record to the obedience of
local residents to relevant regulations as well as the proper
governmental management.
Over 4,000 firemen were on duty on Lunar New Year's Eve, the
first and the fifth day of the New Year. Another 150,000 fire
control volunteers were also staying alert and the police
patrolling vehicles are equipped with fire-fighting facilities.
The fireworks did not pose a threat to the city sanitation
either. In the wee hours, over 10,000 workers were cleaning in the
streets and alleys of the national capital every day during the
festival.
The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau also reported that
no major criminal cases had happened during the festival.
The bureau said about 150,000 police worked in the holiday to
strengthen patrolling. Another 460,000 local residents were
involved in various kinds of efforts to maintain social order.
The capital city has also successfully ensured food safety.
According to statistics from the municipal food safety office,
52,648 inspections have been carried out from Jan. 29 to Feb. 3,
seizing 892 unlawful business conducts.
The city's two consumer hot-lines have received less complaints
than last year. The total number of complaints stood at 99, down
27.21 percent over the same period of 2005. Among which, 40 cases
are concerning electronic appliances.
Feb. 4 marks the last day of the New Year Holiday, statistics
from the National Holiday Office showed that only one accident,
killing three domestic tourists in southwest China's Yunnan
Province has been reported. The office received 135 tourist
complaints, dropping 21 percent from the same period of last
year.
The office's latest travel information bulletin reveals that
most travelers are on their way back and no major travelers
holding-up or stranding cases have been reported.
The National Bureau of Statistics and the National Tourism
Administration forecasted a 10 percent rise in the number of
traveler reception and the earnings of the tourism sector
respectively over the same period of last year.
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)