Celebrating CNY in rural China: No hongbao but there are fireworks and firecrackers

FANG COUNTY, Hubei – The festive spirit was in the air in this mountainous county in China’s central region as residents took turns to set off firecrackers and fireworks to usher in the Year of the Snake. 

Incessant bursts of colourful sparkles lit up the four-storey buildings of convenience shops, residences and offices around me from as early as 10pm on the eve of Chinese New Year on Jan 28, with each round of fiery showers quickly replacing earlier sequences that had only seconds ago sent celebratory streaks of gold, red and purple across the dark sky.