Editor’s note: Anyone who has tried to do some sightseeing in China during Golden Week will know what a horror show it can be: throngs of people pouring into what should be a serene and peaceful scenic spot, and attractions forcing you to pay more for the experience than you normally would. When reading about it, it can be impossible to determine fact from rumor. This is a translated article in which the reporter attempts to find out the truth for these three common accusations. The reporter then goes on to compare the price of China’s attractions to some international examples.

According to a Voice of China countrywide survey on people’s experiences during the national week holiday, price hikes and other hidden costs at major attractions  have left many people feeling rather disappointed in the tourism industry. This reporter aims to investigate three such reports and will find out how true the accusations are and why they may have occurred. 

Source: kevinpoh

6000 RMB for an incense stick at Henan’s Shaolin Temple

Year after year, the Shaolin Temple continues to anger tourists. This year was no different with reports of incense sticks costing 6000 RMB. One online commenter said that “In front of the Precious Hall of the Great Hero, the thinnest incense stick was wider than an arm.”

The official response

After dispatching someone to investigate the matter, Henan’s Dengfeng Tourism Department responded to these complaints via Weibo on October 5: “Shaolin temple doesn’t sell any over-priced incense sticks, so would rumor mongers please conduct themselves with dignity and have some self-respect. Our complaints hotline has also not received any complaints about this matter.”

Investigating the truth

After hearing about the reports of extortion in regards to the price of incense sticks at Shaolin Temple, this reporter immediately headed to Dengfeng. Throughout the many interviews conducted, people confirmed that this kind of overpricing was quite common when the temple first opened to tourism but that the situation has now improved greatly after years of dealing with the problem.  

One interviewee, Mr. Li, confirms that such overpricing is no longer a problem at the temple: “I think the rumor is groundless; if it’s really true, then someone should come up with some evidence. I went there on the 30th and did not encounter this problem. There were many places offering incense sticks, but all were free.”

At Lushan all tickets will set you back 1792 RMB

At Jiangxi’s Lushan Nature Reserve it costs 180 RMB to enter the site. However, once inside the costs keep coming: to go to Lu Villa you must fork out 25 RMB; to go to Lushan Conference Site costs a further 50 RMB; and to go to Diequan Waterfall costs another 64 RMB. Climbing the mountain is too far a distance, but to take the cable car is too expensive. At every new place at which you arrive you must pay again; if you want to see everything at the site it’ll cost 1792 RMB.

Official response

The deputy director of the park’s administration bureau had this to say about the report: “Within our administrative jurisdiction, the 180 RMB ticket is the only ticket we can control the price of. You do not need to buy further tickets to enjoy the natural beauty spots within our jurisdiction.”

Investigating the truth

According to the report, 302 square km of Lushan Nature Reserve is under the jurisdiction of Jiujiang County. Tour guides at recommended attractions often take people up the hill where they are likely to charge tourists additional fees to make extra money. With the absence of proper regulating, an increasing number of tickets are being sold and the cost of attending the park has been steadily going up.

Tourist numbers to free sites like Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum should be limited

Over Golden Week, the entrance fee of 16 tourist attractions in Jiangsu was lowered, among them two 5A scenic spots, nine 4A scenic spots, and five 3A scenic spots. Up to 20% discounts were being offered on some of the entrance tickets. Moreover, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is free throughout the entire year. The majority of 5A scenic attractions are found in Jiangsu Province; because many of these places have been privately funded through business investors, their entrance fee prices are not set by the government as a result.

Official response

Zhao Nan from the Jiangsu Province Price Bureau said this in response: “We have 16 grade 5A scenic spots, and four of these have prices set at over 120 RMB by the government. According to National Development and Reform Commission requirements, the number of 5A attractions charging 120 RMB or more must be reduced by 30%. At present there are four attractions within the province that exceed 120 RMB, so we have actually already exceeded the limit.

Investigating the truth

The Jiangsu economy relies on tourism and these ticket sales. Let’s take Nanjing as an example; in 2012 Nanjing’s Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum became free to the public, and the park lost over two million tickets as a source of income. However, this move attracted many more people to the city for sightseeing and Nanjing’s income from tourism actually increased. In 2011, tourism to Nanjing brought in over 127.2 billion RMB in revenue, marking an annual increase.

Statistics show that 100 million trips were made during Golden Week each day. On September 27, the National Development and Reform Commission reported that prices will be lowered by around 20% for 1400 of China’s scenic spots in order to build a competitive pricing environment and reduce the cost of travel. But tourists have reported a lack of compliance to the government initiative, as well as disguised forms of price hiking. 

According to Dai Bin, head of China’s Tourism Research Institute, the prices are said to be quite high in relation to the average monthly income. Another common complaint made by tourists is the raising of prices using public resources. No one can object to Disneyland raising the prices of Disney products because those are Disney’s own products; however, when it comes to raising prices of natural and human resources, many people have opinions on that.

A global comparison: Despite reduced prices, China’s attractions are still very high

China’s ticket prices for natural attractions include: Jiuzhaigou, 310 RMB; Zhangjiajie, 248 RMB; Wuyishan, 250 RMB; Huangshan, 230 RMB; Emeishan, 185 RMB; Huangguoshu Waterfalls, 180 RMB; and Lushan, 180 RMB.

In contrast, here are some examples of ticket prices that belong to foreign tourist attractions: USA’s Yellowstone National Park, 75 RMB; France’s Louvre Museum, 80 RMB; and to conclude, Japan’s Mount Fuji is free as is USA’s Niagara Falls. Why are foreign scenic spots so inexpensive in comparison?

In England, public designated areas are all free to enter. Here, you can visit most museums for free such as the British Museum or the Victoria & Albert Museum. It is only witnessing royal life that’ll cost you; the cost to roam around Buckingham Palace is 160 RMB.

In France, ticket prices are also quite low despite Paris being the world’s premier tourist city. The Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and other French world-famous sights all adhere to the French governments “low-cost” strategy. Just imagine, to visit the Lourve is 80 RMB and admission is waived twice a month so you can get in for free!

In the US many museums are free (but open to a voluntary donation); it is theme parks that are expensive. In relation to the monthly average income, America’s public nature parks are relatively cheap; the most you will pay is 10 to 20 USD. In comparison, getting into Disneyworld will cost you 50 USD.

Italy’s highest ticket price is still less than 1% of the average monthly income. Rome is like a huge open air museum but the price of tickets won’t cause you too much worry: visiting the Colosseum will only cost you  six Euros.

Compared to abroad, China’s scenic spots get 70% of their revenue from tickets; it is a ‘ticket-based economy’. In low revenue provinces, the situation is especially obvious. Therefore, in the short term, the foreign model of ‘free entry’ may not be applicable.

Liu Deqian, Deputy Director of the Tourism Centre at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has said that in some less developed places ticket sales at attractions is an important part of the local economy. If ticket prices were lowered it would have an adverse effect.

Source: news.163.com

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Keywords: Attraction price hikes scenic spot price hikes Golden Week National week holiday