Five scenic spots in Beijing of special interest - the Imperial Palace Museum, Beihai Park, the Fragrant Hills Park, Beijing Zoo, and the Lama Temple - raised their ticket prices Thursday to cash in on the busy tourist season.

The increased income from the price hike will be used to maintain and protect these famous heritage sites and improve their facilities, according to the city's price bureau.

The Imperial Palace Museum, a famous world heritage site with a ticket price of 40 yuan (US$4.80) all the year around, set different prices for peak and slack seasons on August 1.

The ticket price for the busy season, April 1 to October 31, is now 60 yuan (US$7.30), while for the rest of the year, the price will remain at the old 40 yuan level, according to the museum.

The increase in ticket price may dissuade the less interested in peak season and thus help cut down on the excessive wear and tear on its ancient buildings and relics, according to the museum, which receives around 7 million tourists a year, 1.2 million of whom are foreigners.

The Beijing Zoo raised its ticket price to 15 yuan (US$1.80) in peak seasons, keeping its original 10 yuan (US$1.2) price for the off season (November 1 through to March 31).

Ticket prices for Beihai Park and Fragrant Hills Park have been raised to 10 yuan (US$1.2) for the busy season, but will remain at 5 yuan (60 US cents) for the slack season.

The Lama Temple - Yonghegong - hiked its ticket price to a flat 25 yuan (US$3.00) year-round.

However, discount prices for students, children and the old remain at their previous levels, according to the price bureau.

In 2001, several renowned scenic spots, such as the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), raised their ticket prices for the peak season.

The increased income from ticket sales has been used to restore several historical relics over the past two years, such as the Danning Hall, the Changguan Hall, and the Deling Tomb, said Zhao Hechong, an official with the bureau.

"Ticket prices at many of the scenic spots in Beijing have remained low for a long time, ignoring the law of the market place, and the obvious source of funds for heritage preservation," said Zhao.

The price hikes will allow the government to better protect historical sites and thus ensure that they are preserved for the enjoyment and edification of future generations, said Zhao.

( China Daily August 2, 2002)