Firecrackers and fireworks

Firecrackers and fireworks

　　Firecrackers and fireworks are traditional handicrafts from Jianhu County. During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Li Yixian from Lijiazhuang in Jianhu was skilled in making firecrackers and fireworks. The craft has been passed down through generations, making the family a well-known "firecracker and fireworks" dynasty in the region. The Li family's fireworks include four main categories: aerial fireworks, handheld fireworks, ground fireworks, and firecrackers. Notable varieties include Fairy Scattering Flowers, Fluttering Colorful Butterflies, and the "Nine Dragons." When lit, they shoot into the sky like meteors and arrows, bursting into nine colorful lights as if nine dragons are competing for a pearl, making them highly popular and widely sold across China. (Yancheng)