Hangzhou city will be offering Shanghai citizens 800,000 yuan (US$117,000) worth of free passes to designated tourist venues and restaurants next month.

It is part of a 40-million-yuan boost for the city's tourism industry. The passes will be distributed throughout the Yangtze Delta region.

Shanghai will be one of the cities targeted in the program. Although details on how the coupons will be distributed have not been finalized, they will be delivered next month.

Tourists will be able to use the passes to pay for tickets to designated sightseeing venues, theatrical performances and in restaurants in Hangzhou, the city's travel commission said.

(Shanghai Daily February 23, 2009)