Seven top-level tourist sites punished for substandard service

BEIJING - Seven tourist attractions with 5A-level ratings, the highest rating in China, have been punished for substandard tourism quality or other problems.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism conducted a review and inspection of select 5A-level scenic areas to check their resource conservation, tourist facilities and sanitation and safety management, among other services, the ministry said Wednesday.

According to the inspection results, a tourist site featuring an ancient and traditional folk house in the city of Jinzhong, North China's Shanxi province, was removed from the 5A-level list.

The ministry also named and shamed another six 5A-level tourism spots, and urged them to rectify their problems within three months.

China has a tourism-rating classification system that rates a tourist attraction from A to 5A based on its overall tourism quality.