(Yicai Global) Feb. 23 -- Beijing saw improved pollution levels during this year's Chinese New Year holiday, running from Feb. 15 to Feb 21., attributable to efforts to stem the use of fireworks, the capital's smog monitors said.

The average level of particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter (PM2.5) was 78 micrograms-per-cubic-meter in the capital over the period, down 19.6 percent on last year, data from Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center states.

Chinese New Year passed without any severe pollution occurring in Beijing despite some moderate readings during the middle of the break, the center said in a statement.

The average PM2.5 concentration on Chinese New Year's Eve, a traditional day for fireworks in the country, fell by more than half to 201 micrograms-per-cubic-meter, compared to last year's reading of 426 micrograms-per-cubic-meter.

This year marks the first Chinese New Year holiday since Beijing implemented a newly revised version of Beijing Fireworks and Firecrackers Safety Management Regulations, which banned such activities inside the capital's fifth ring road. Pyrotechnics were also prohibited in various types of areas outside the fifth ring road, including cultural sites, traffic hubs and storage facilities for flammable or combustible materials.