A total of 35 people were detained during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday for setting off fireworks inside the special economic zone, Shenzhen police said Saturday.

Firecrackers have been banned in Luohu, Futian, Nanshan and Yantian districts since 1991, when the government issued new fireworks management rules.

Violation of the regulations by manufacturing, selling or setting off fireworks can lead to fines of up to 5,000 yuan (US$640) and 15 days in custody.

The municipal authorities got tougher this year after residents openly defied the ban on firecrackers in the past few years, with loud explosions being heard in downtown areas.

During the past week, the police received nearly 100 fireworks-related complaints, confiscated 30 tons of fireworks and warned more than 1,000 people.

The tradition of lighting firecrackers goes back generations in China. Chinese believe fireworks drive away demons, especially on lunar New Year's Eve.

The ban is supported by many Shenzheners. A Nanshan resident surnamed Zhang, who moved to a new apartment before the New Year, said he found the continuous noise impossible to bear.

"The fireworks never stopped during the holiday especially from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., some drive to the barren land in front of my apartment building after they found the idle place for setting off fireworks, some of the explosions were so huge even wakening up my sleeping baby," said Zhang.

Local police called for the public to provide tips about sales, transport and storage of fireworks.

Editor: Yan