The Chinese really like fireworks, firecrackers and anything else that blows up or makes light/noise. They like it so much, in fact, that using fireworks is banned as a security hazard in some of China’s major cities, such as Beijing or Guangzhou. Fortunately this is not the case in Shanghai, which is what this post is about.

Two days ago was the Chinese New Year’s eve, and with it came the fireworks. The Shanghainese, who are relatively well-off, are not stingy when it comes to spending their money on fireworks and before the holiday massive amounts of these are sold all across the city. I had spent new year’s eve in an apartment in the pudong area, up in the 27th floor - with a panoramic view of the river from one side and a view of pudong from the other side. This turned out to be a very fortunate choice, as it was a great spot for watching the show unfold.

It is hard to describe the Shanghai new year’s fireworks without using again and again the word “orgy”. There isn’t really any organized event - people just go out, in groups, to the street and launch their own fireworks from whereever they want. You can start seeing fireworks from as early as 9pm, but it really starts getting momentum after ten o’clock; And the amounts of fireworks launched are awe-inspiring. The fireworks launched within a fifty-meter radius of my building alone (which, being on the 27th floor, meant they went off right in front of my window) were more than all the fireworks in Israel’s main independence day event at mount Hertzel. At every given moment, looking out the window, I could simultaniously see fireworks launched from at least three different places - and this went on for more than three hours. As midnight approaches, this orgy of fireworks reaches its climax. The denizens of shanghai save their best and brightest fireworks for this moment, and the entire city, in all directions, is one big fireworks display. Truly a site to be seen.

I have been told that according to Chinese tradition, the sights you see in New Year’s eve reflect on the entire upcoming year. If this is the case, then this year is looking to be quite bright indeed….