Hangzhou, a popular tour destination in Zhejiang Province, is in for a flood of visitors from Shanghai during the upcoming weeklong National Day holiday if a report carried by a newspaper yesterday is true.

According to the Shanghai-based Youth Daily, Hangzhou's vice mayor revealed that during the holidays, Shanghai tourists who go to hotels and restaurants around the scenic West Lake can avail a 40 percent discount.

In addition, parks and scenic spots will be open to public for free, the newspaper reported.

However, the news was received with skepticism yesterday.

Hua yunong, vice director of the Hangzhou Tourism Administrative Commission, told Shanghai Daily over the phone, "I have yet to receive any such information."

Hangzhou travel agencies also had no idea about the policy.

"The promotion can only be possible during the West Lake Expo which begins on October 20," said Shi Mingzhu, manager of the Hangzhou Tianyuan Tour Co Ltd. "It's strange to hold a promotion during the National Day holiday, when the city will anyway be flooded with tourists."

Both Hua and Shi confirmed that three more parks, along with four that are already open to public for free, will cancel their admission charges from October 1. By then, all parks along the southern bank of West Lake will be free.

The promotional event is said to coincide with the reopening of 36 scenic spots along the lake following the completion of an expansion project.

(eastday.com August 5, 2003)