Recently, the Mazu Temple scenic area in Zhangye, Gansu Province, was exposed for setting up toll booths and charging exorbitant “passing fees” of 300 yuan per person (RMB, same below), excluding the entrance tickets to the attractions, sparking widespread attention on the internet.
On July 21, a netizen posted on social media that on County Road 208 and Township Road 334 from Mazu Temple to Jinta Temple in Zhangye, Gansu Province, the scenic area staff set up toll booths for a fee. Each person was charged 300 yuan as a passing fee, which did not grant access to Mazu Temple or Jinta Temple even after paying the fee.
A circulated video clip showed a sign saying “parking and ticket purchase for entering the scenic area,” with two staff members in green jackets stopping vehicles and guiding them to the side of the road. Some netizens commented that it should be the visitors’ choice whether to enter the scenic area, and the scenic area has no right to set up toll booths on public roads, let alone combining “passing through” with “consumption.”
On July 22, officials from the Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Sunan County responded to Upstream News, confirming the existence of toll booths, which they described as inappropriate and illegal. They have received multiple similar complaints this year. As a measure, the local tourism authorities, in conjunction with the transportation department, have issued a rectification letter to the scenic area last week, and the area is currently undergoing rectification.
Interface News called the official phone number of the Mazu Ecological Culture Tourism Area on July 23, and a staff member stated that “if you want to enter the area, you just need to purchase a regular ticket, which costs 87 yuan per person, including a sightseeing shuttle.”
The incident quickly drew widespread attention on the internet.
Netizens expressed their views, saying, “I was also stopped on the same day, riding a motorcycle. They said you have to make an appointment in advance, but the earliest available slot was for the next day. The fee was 300 yuan per person, so I decided it wasn’t worth it and left.” “This is robbery on the road.” “What’s the difference between this and highway robbery? It’s open and blatant robbery! Instead of the tourism bureau, it should be handled by the criminal investigation department.”
“If they know it’s illegal, they should refund the money that should not have been charged to tourists and face penalties.” “Since it’s illegal charging, why just request rectification instead of severe punishment?” “In the past, you could drive in by purchasing a ticket for Mazu Temple, but now you have to take their shuttle, which is an indirect way of charging. Zhangye’s tourism cannot retain visitors, the tourism sector should address this issue, or they will suffer greater losses.”
“So many complaints have been received this year, why hasn’t the issue been rectified yet?” “If they have received numerous complaints from visitors, why delay the handling?”
On July 23, “Zhangye Tourism” released a statement asserting that a work post has been set up at the entrance of the parking lot to provide guidance and diversion services for visitors, with no issues of setting up roadblocks and charging “exorbitant passing fees.” The media reported the 300 yuan per person “exorbitant passing fee,” which is actually a cost for the deep-tourism product introduced by the Mazu scenic area in January 2023.
This explanation was refuted by netizens, saying, “You’re lying even when trying to explain.” “If there’s no problem, why suspend the fee for deep tours?” “There’s no charging issue? But you’re suspending the fee for deep tours? This is too abstract!” “What was the rectification mentioned yesterday targeting?” “I was planning to go to Gansu, but now I’ve decided to cancel the trip.”
According to the official website, the Mazu Ecological Cultural Tourism Area is located in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Gansu Province, at the foot of Linsong Mountain, 60 kilometers from Zhangye City. It integrates grotto art, religious culture, ethnic customs, and natural scenery, being a national AAAA-level tourist area.
The Mazu Temple Grottoes are a key national cultural relic protection unit, believed to have been excavated during the Northern Liang period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, with a history of over 1600 years, comprising the Qianfodong, Shengguosi, Puguangsi, upper, middle, and lower Guanyin caves, and Jinta Temple.