nikosk

Hi to all!
Researching for my upcoming trip to east China, I read about very interesting countryside villages and water towns / villages with canals, around Shanghai, Hangzou and southern.
But most of the times they are mentioned to have entrance fees 100-200R.
Anybody knows if this is for entering some specific sights of each village, or even for just crossing into it for walking around the canals and neighbourhoods?
Then, to venture around a few of these places, the cost would sum up to a significant amount for just walking them...
hoping this is not the case...!
many thanks!!
Nikolas

ekscrunchy

From my trip report, dated 2007:

<(Xitang) is the button capital of China and we passed many small factories and workshops, identifiable by the towers of shells heaped outside (from which the higher-quality buttons are crafted). While I would not say that the drive (from Shanghai) was particularly scenic, it was fascinating to see a glimpse of China outside the huge cities. About 10:30 we came to an entrance booth; "casual visitors" to old Xitang must purchase a ticket that affords entrance to the various "attractions;" I am not sure if one would have to pay just to walk through the town but the ticket fee is small in any case.>

nikosk

thanks for your experience!
if you pay for certain attractions, that's definately normal.
but if you have to pay just to walk in the streets it's not so normal- at least, to my experiences in many other countries.
Xitang has a fee of Y100, some others have 200, from what I read over the internet.
It can sum up to a substantial cost if you visit some villages (that's what I'd like!)

rkkwan

That's China for you. Most monasteries and temples that are not even that famous has entrance fees, even if you're a local going in for worship.

Shanghainese

China is China, the entire town/village of those you mentioned are considered attractions so you pay a fee just to walk in the streets, there may be extra charges for specific sites, i.e. temples, old mansions.

jobin

Huge population, many with idle time and nowhere to go and little to do and little money to spend means that free public places like parks, temples, street corners, etc. tend to be full of people morning till night. Charge a fee and the number of users drops dramatically.

nikosk

Many thanks for the great info!
I understand how you put it and definatelly will visit some/many of these traditional towns,
Don't exactly want to be illegal, but in most cases I (and probably many more travellers) really enjoy best, to walk the streets , and get the feel of the places,
Paying for being in the streets sounds like a kind of tourist trap to me...
Especially if this is a common practise around the country...
Thanks again
Happy travels to all!!