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Beijing has doubled its stock of fireworks for this year's Spring Festival, hoping to drive prices down and offer residents more sparkle and noise, officials said on Wednesday.

Beijing has prepared more than half a million boxes of fireworks worth 114 million yuan (US$14.6 million) for the coming Spring Festival that falls on Feb. 18, double the amount sold last year, sources with the Beijing Municipal Office of Fireworks said.

Beijing residents can buy their fireworks from 2,500 designated stores, up from last year's 2,100.

Beijing authorities approved a further fireworks wholesale company this year, bringing the total number to two. Supermarkets who have the appropriate certificate are also allowed to sell fireworks, the first time since Beijing lifted a 12-year ban on firecrackers in 2005.

The sources said the moves would reduce the retail price of fireworks.

Chinese usually ignite firecrackers and burn incense during traditional Chinese festivals, especially the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, to get good luck for the coming year.

However, firecrackers were banned in 1993 in Beijing because they were believed to cause environmental and safety problems.

The ban on firecrackers was disputed by local residents, who believe that folk traditions are less meaningful without firecrackers.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)