Shanghai’s first wetland park has scrapped its free entry policy and will begin to charge visitors starting from September 1, a local newspaper reported today.

 

The Wusong Battery Wetland Forest Park in Baoshan District, where the Yangtze River empties into the sea, will start to charge a five yuan (66 US cents) entry fee for adults, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

 

Tickets for students will cost four yuan while soldiers, the disabled, retired senior military officers, people over the age of 70 and children shorter than1.2 meters tall will still enjoy free admittance to the park, the report said citing the Baoshan Greenery Administrative Bureau.

 

The admission fees are aimed at strengthening the management of the park and keeping out beggars and thieves, an unnamed official told the newspaper.

 

The park opened free to the public in May's golden week this year after a one-year renovation that has enlarged and renovated the park.

 

Wusongkou, which means the mouth of the Wusong River, has played an important role in Shanghai both historically and militarily. During the several resistance wars, it contributed significantly to the defense of the city.

 

(Shanghai Daily August 27, 2007)