Culture Insider: Children's games in ancient China

The painting from Qing Dynasty depicts children playing with firecrackers. Collected by the Capital Museum.

Firecrackers

Firecrackers have a history of more than 2,000 years. It is said that there was a beast named Nian in ancient China, and to scare off the beast, people burnt bamboo joints to make it blast. After gunpowder was invented, it gradually replaced the bamboo joint cracker. Crackers are still set off during Spring Festival to symbolize auspiciousness.