The People's Daily reports that the proposed admission charge rises for Beijing's world heritage sites have been strongly opposed by some netizens in China, although a public hearing has already approved the price adjustment.

Many Chinese netizens say protection of these sites should be financed by the government. They also say the sites belong to the whole of the Chinese people, disputing the Beijing Municipal government's right to change the prices.

The paper says that many people feel the higher prices will deprive the less well off of the opportunity to visit the sites, as a ticket can cost the equivalent of half a year's expenditure for a rural resident.

Some representatives that attended the hearing also expressed doubts over the price rise, saying auditing is needed on the future budgets for the sites before any price changes are made.

In addition, as those who attended the hearing were all from Beijing, it was pointed out that a resolution from such a hearing can't represent the will of the people of the whole country.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 9, 2004)