The return of fireworks to traditional Lunar New Year celebrations brought much joy to revelers, but also sorrow to some parts of the nation.

In Beijing, where a 12-year ban on fireworks has just been lifted, explosions injured 112 people, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) said.

Seventeen people suffered serious eye injuries, and another 26 were admitted to hospital with various types of wounds.

According to the Beijing News Daily, the city's environmental protection bureau collected 458 tons of waste fireworks on January 29, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, firefighters rushed to extinguish 191 fires caused by fireworks on Lunar New Year's Eve.

About 3,000 firefighters gave up the chance to spend the holiday with their families to remain on duty.

The city has so far reported no major injuries.

Many people believe fireworks can scare off evil spirits and attract the god of wealth to their doorsteps. Experts said the lifting of the ban would help preserve traditional Chinese culture.

But others said the return of fireworks would lead to more serious pollution, fires, injuries and deaths.

On Sunday an explosion in Linzhou, a city in central China's Henan Province, killed 36 people and injured 48.

The explosion occurred when firecrackers in a storehouse were accidentally ignited, SAWS said in a statement.

"The huge sound of fireworks is also a kind of violence," said Zhang Chao, of Beijing's Tongzhou District. "My son is scared of the sound."

"They should find some other way to celebrate the new year," he said.

Although there were disagreements, the governments in more than 100 Chinese cities lifted the ban on fireworks last year.

Beijing also lifted the ban after a survey found that 70 percent of residents felt fireworks made the holiday period more festive.

The new rules allow Beijing residents to explore fireworks all day and all night on January 28, and from 7 AM to midnight every day from January 29 to February 12.

With the aim of ensuring safety, about 3,000 police and community officers have been sent to patrol off-limits areas such as schools, retirement homes and historic relics.

(China Daily February 1, 2006)