Starting Monday, people in Beijing can buy annual tickets to get into the 12 of the city's parks.

The parks include the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park, Fragrant Hills Park, and the Beijing Zoo. The ticket costs 200 yuan, or US$25, with no limit on the number of visits per year.

Beijing has had similar annual tickets before, but only for seniors. This time the ticket is available for everybody, including the migrant population. And all you have to do is to turn up at one of the parks with a photo and ID card.

Officials from the city's Development Planning Commission have also said that they are considering including more parks in the annual ticket in the near future.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 20, 2004)