Incredible and frightening at the same time. If there was ever any law for where you should NOT set off fireworks, it was broken in every possible way on the weekend of the New Year in Beijing. The sound of fireworks was heard from morning through to night for the 4 days I was there. On the main night, they went for HOURS - and they were everywhere. It was a fascinating sight to see, and sound to hear. Bright colours and flashes of light all around.. The atmosphere was amazing! But, when full on huge fireworks were being set off 2 metres in front of me without any warning, and then a big BANG, it made my heart race, while I was racing in the opposite direction just to be met by another big bang. A mixture of alcohol and stupidity for others left them with a sore head the next morning and even more sore bottoms from trying to sit over the fireworks while they went off.
Policemen and children playing with fireworks in the street were enjoying the festivities that they have been enjoying year in, year out for as long as they can remember. Remnants of fireworks went wrong were left in the form of fire extinguishers lining the streets and a few shaky legs.
The hostel put on a games night with some fun stuff including a chopstick competition - how many peanuts can you move from one bowl to another using chopsticks? All good fun and highly amusing to watch!
The next morning, it had all been cleared up ready for round two!
