Windless weather and smog may put damper on fireworks

Many cities in northern and central China are forecast to experience air pollution from Feb 9 to 11 in the middle of the weeklong Spring Festival holiday, when smoggy days will not be suitable for setting off firecrackers, the national meteorological authority said on Thursday.

On the Spring Festival's eve, which falls on Sunday, residents in Beijing, Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces will first be hit by smog because of windless conditions, said Zhang Zuqiang, spokesman for the China Meteorological Administration.

Spring Festival runs from Sunday to Feb 13 and is the most important holiday for Chinese people, who get together and celebrate with fireworks.