Dubious chance for road charge

The furor over the introduction of a charge to drive on a remote scenic highway in North China's Hebei province will probably come to end now the provincial price authority says the practice is legal and the money is duly collected according to regulations.

Known as "China's Route 66", the 130-kilometer highway received more than 330,000 visitors last year, far beyond its capacity, according to officials in Zhangbei county.

They claim the tourists have damaged the local ecology and environment and disrupted the lives of local residents, and the charge of 50 yuan ($7.7) per person will prevent the situation from worsening.