Fireworks and firecrackers will continue to be banned in the area within the Outer Ring Road this year, Shanghai police said on Wednesday.

Only nine shops and companies in districts in suburban areas have been authorized to legally sell fireworks and firecrackers, and the list is yet to be confirmed, police said.

The urban firework ban in Shanghai was first introduced in 2016 to ensure public safety and reduce air pollution, especially during the Spring Festival, a time in which setting off fireworks is a tradition for Chinese people.