Beijing, China. One person was killed and 75 others were injured while setting off fireworks over the past day, the capital city's firework office said on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)
..and this in no way surprises me after witnessing first hand the festive and explosive celebrations that surround Chinese (Lunar) New Year in Beijing… an event which rendered me speechless, and will be etched in my mind forever…a truly amazing sight to behold.
The Chinese ring in the New Year by letting off fireworks intended to ward off devil evils. As darkness fell on the city fireworks began to explode around the city in preparation for midnight. Around 11, Kate and I took to the streets to witness the chaos and stumbled into a small residential courtyard surrounded by apartment buildings. In every direction, families let off fireworks of all kinds, volume and colour, causing children to scream and laugh, car alarms to flash and sound, and us to smile and frolic in excitement.
At about quarter to midnight we found some fellow tour-groupers and snuck through a window to the roof of our hotel. The sight of the surrounding city was unreal. In every direction, as far as the eye could see, we witnessed the best and biggest, un-choreographed display of pyrotechnics imaginable . Fireworks ignited from thousands of streets, courtyards, sidewalks, balconies and parks, shot into the sky, ricocheting off buildings and each other, and echoing though the night sky. Words still continue to fail me, so enjoy the video…
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