Entrance fee threatens reputation of ancient town  

中国最美小城的“票伤”：游客失望商户很无奈

4月10日起，有“中国最美小城”之称的凤凰古城将原来免费的古城景区和南华山神凤景区合二为一“捆绑销售”，向游客收取148元人民币的门票。

Fenghuang（CNS）-- For Xu Bin, a tourist from Shaanxi province, this is his first and probably last trip to Fenghuang, an ancient town in central China's Hunan province.

"I feel the atmosphere here is soothing and the scenery is wonderful," Xu said, as he ate local snacks with his friends at a small restaurant. "But it is possible that I will never come here again if it charges for entrance."

Reputed as "the most beautiful town in China," Fenghuang began charging entrance fees as high as 148 yuan starting on April 10, despite heated controversy.

Xu, who booked his hotel on the internet, was unaware of the new rules before he arrived here. His disappointment in the fees has affected his once high expectations of the scenic spot.

"Charging entrance fees for tourists will affect both tourists and business owners. It pushes up travel expenditures," he said.

"If fewer individual tourists come to Fenghuang, our business will suffer," said Mr. Liu, the owner of the restaurant.

Some business owners in the town have closed their doors in protest. A group of unlicensed tour guides and some shop owners took to the street last week, calling on other business owners to join them against the entrance fee.

Law-enforcement authorities soon intervened to quell the discontent.