Jinshan City Beach, a coastal resort on Hangzhou Bay in southern Shanghai's Jinshan district, has seen a largeincrease in the number of people visiting it this summer, although some have been questioning whether it is reasonable that the beach charges an entrance fee.

Tickets have been charged for from June 10 to September 10 each year since 2008, when Jinshan district authorities gave permission to the beach's administration to charge fees during the peak tourist season.

Tickets are priced at two levels, with those for weekday daytimes costing 30 yuan ($4.40), while entry at weekends, on national holidays and in weekday evenings between 5:30 pm and 8 pm costs 50 yuan ($7.36).

Additional activities are also charged, with a 45-minute-long sea dive priced at 330 yuan ($48.54), while renting a sailboard costs 160 yuan ($23.51) for half an hour.

However, another coastal resort in the city, Bihaijinsha Water Park in Fengxian district, does not charge entry.

"Who wants to pay 50 yuan for swimming?" Li Jiangfeng, an IT engineer, told the Global Times Tuesday. "Besides, if you want to do extra activities, you have to pay more. How is this beach supposed to benefit residents?

"I prefer the beaches in Qingdao, where coastal bathing places of this type are free, although they are crowded."

Calls to Jinshan City Beach went unanswered Tuesday afternoon.

An official said that charging for the beach is necessary to maintain it and keep the number of visitors at a reasonable level.

"I don't know why the beach in Fengxian does not charge for entry," an official surnamed Liu, from the complaints hot line of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission, told the Global Times Tuesday. "Jinshan City Beach's charges are justifiable, as maintenance is harder as the water area is over 17 meters deep, while space in the 1.8-meter swimming area is limited."

When asked about Li's comparison of the price system with Qingdao, Liu pointed out that one main Qingdao beach does charge entry.

Qingdao has seven designated bathing spots in its downtown area, with only the Second Bathing Place charging during the summer peak season. The charge is 10 yuan ($1.47).

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