Chinese revelers may have the hard choice of deciding between protecting the environment or protecting tradition as they prepared fireworks displays for the Spring Festival, which fell on Feb. 19 this year.
But, a man from central China's Henan Province has devised an invention that could allow them to do both.
Wang Xinming, an oil company employee, created a non-polluting firecracker to help people protect the environment and enjoy festive atmosphere at the same time.
"My invention is not powered by explosives or electricity," the 29-year-old Wang said.
Approved for patent in July, the firecracker uses a closed cavity which can be injected with air. Users then just need to press a button and the closed cavity will immediately open a small hole, through which, compressed air will discharge and produce an explosive sound.
“It is more beautiful than normal firecrackers. If customers need, the firecracker can emit water mist and even fragrance,” Wang said.
Chinese people traditionally light firecrackers and fireworks during the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, based on the superstition that the noise will fend off evil spirits and bad luck.
However, this tradition has been blamed for dust, sulfur dioxide and lingering smog in recent years.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
