Customs officers prepare to destroy sub-standard firecrackers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on February 11, 2007, a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's a Chinese tradition to celebrate the Spring Festival by setting off fireworks, which gives rise to rampant illegal fireworks. The destruction was launched to ensure a safe new year.

A customs officer shows a sub-standard firecracker before destroying a total of 2600 boxed of them in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on February 11, 2007, a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's a Chinese tradition to celebrate the Spring Festival by setting off fireworks, which gives rise to rampant illegal fireworks. The destruction was launched to ensure a safe new year.

Customs officers prepare to destroy sub-standard firecrackers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on February 11, 2007, a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's a Chinese tradition to celebrate the Spring Festival by setting off fireworks, which gives rise to rampant illegal fireworks. The destruction was launched to ensure a safe new year.

Customs officers prepare to destroy sub-standard firecrackers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on February 11, 2007, a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's a Chinese tradition to celebrate the Spring Festival by setting off fireworks, which gives rise to rampant illegal fireworks. The destruction was launched to ensure a safe new year.

A total of 2600 boxes of substandard firecrackers are destroyed by detonation in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on February 11, 2007, a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's a Chinese tradition to celebrate the Spring Festival by setting off fireworks, which gives rise to rampant illegal fireworks. The destruction was launched to ensure a safe new year.

(China Daily February 13, 2007)