Fares for long-distance coaches will rise by up to 65 percent during the festival traffic peak from Jan. 25 to March 5, 2005.

South China's Guangdong provincial pricing bureau Monday announced ceilings on the price hikes for long-distance coaches during the Spring Festival period, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.

Express coaches departing Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Huizhou and Foshan cities will be allowed to raise fares by up to 65 percent from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8, the Lunar New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, express coaches departing other cities will be allowed to raise fares by up to 45 percent from Jan. 25 to March 8.

Express coaches departing Guangzhou can raise fares by up to 65 percent from Feb. 9 to March 5, when express coaches departing other cities will be allowed to raise fares by up to 45 percent.

Ordinary coaches running between counties can raise fares by up to 40 percent, while ordinary coaches operating within a county can raise fares by up to 30 percent.

City buses, taxis, and ferries are not allowed to raise fares during the festival period.

The provincial pricing bureau said coach operators can raise fares within the limits set by the government and must report their price rises to authorities.

The bureau also requires long-distance bus stations and operators to publicize their fares for the Spring Festival period before Jan. 15.

(Shenzhen Daily December 22, 2004)