BEIJING - The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said Wednesday that air pollution will hit many parts of China during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, which begins January 31.

An unidentified official with the ministry said due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions and fireworks, most parts of the country, except the northwest and southwest, will suffer moderate to heavy air pollution from January 31 to February 1.

On the eve of the Spring Festival on Thursday, North China and the Chengdu-Chongqing region will have light to moderate air pollution, and some cities may have heavy air pollution. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze Delta will have light to moderate air pollution, while the Pearl River Delta in the south will see good air quality to light pollution.

From February 2 to 4, the air quality in most parts of China will be good or have only light pollution.

On February 6, some cities in northern, central, and southern China, the Chengdu-Chongqing region in the southwest, and south and northwest China will face moderate to heavy pollution, said the official.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will suffer moderate to heavy air pollution from January 31 to February 1 and on February 6, said the official.

The official suggested that people set off fireworks as little as possible so as to reduce air pollution.