Incentives offered to stay in Hangzhou

Consumption vouchers, tickets to cultural and tourism attractions and discounts for mobile phone bills will be given to non-local workers who choose to remain in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, for the Spring Festival celebration from Jan 31 to Feb 6.

Twenty vouchers will be handed out to each person. They will be worth 25 yuan each — totaling 500 yuan ($78). Cash coupons in traditional red envelopes, with denominations ranging from 5 yuan to 500 yuan, will be given daily during the seven-day holiday. Each person can receive a red envelope once a day.

It is estimated that 3 million people are eligible to receive the benefits, according to Ma Jun, deputy director of the Hangzhou Development and Reform Commission.

In Ningbo, the allowance — 100 yuan per person per day, not exceeding 500 yuan total — will be given to employees who work on the front lines of industrial enterprises above a designated size, trade enterprises above designated size and major project construction enterprises from Jan 26 to Feb 10. Recipients must have paid their social insurance during December in Ningbo.

In Hefei, Anhui province, 1,000 yuan per person will be given to non-local employees who work in key industrial enterprises, major construction project enterprises, industrial enterprises and service enterprises above a certain size.

In Foshan, Guangdong province, a total of 10 million yuan in cash, 100,000 tickets for popular attractions, 10,000 movie tickets and more than 10,000 New Year's packets will be distributed to encourage the workers to stay in Foshan during the festival.

Fang Xiaoying in Hangzhou contributed to this story.