Mount Tai Scenic Area in Tai'an, Shandong province [Photo/VCG]

An increase in the number of tourists visiting Mount Tai Scenic Area in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province on March 1-3 was due to the reduction of the scenic area's ticket price.

The ticket price for Mount Tai Scenic Area, covering the entrance fee to both Mount Tai and Dai Temple, has been reduced to 115 yuan ($16.70) from 240 yuan since March 1. The price of a single ticket for Dai Temple was reduced from 30 yuan to 20 yuan. The five scenic spots at Mount Tai Scenic Area – Colorful Stones Brook, Yuquan Temple, Puzhao Temple, Red Gate Palace and Wangmu Pool – are open to the public for free.

According to statistics from the scenic area, more than 3,600 tourists visited Dai Temple during the three days, with the number of those buying single tickets staying the same as last year, while those with the 115-yuan ticket increased by 20 percent.

Dai Temple, located at the foot of Mount Tai, takes the architectural style of an imperial palace and is one the four ancient Chinese buildings along with the Imperial Palace in Beijing, Chengde Mountain Resort and the Three Confucius Sites in Qufu. [Photo/WeChat account: taishanwanbao]

Colorful Stones Brook, whose peak season is usually in April, also saw an increase in its tourist arrivals on those three days. "The free entrance to Colorful Stones Brook definitely attracted more tourists," said an official at the Taohua (peach blossom) Valley ticket center of Mount Tai Scenic Area. "The average daily number of visitors is about 1,000 on weekends."

As well, the cheaper ticket will be valid for three days from the date of sale with unlimited access to the scenic area.

Children under 6 years or below 1.4 meters in height, people over 60, active duty soldiers, retired army officers and the disabled can have free entrance with valid identification. Children between 6 to 18 years old and full-time students with a university bachelor degree or below can obtain a half-price discount.

The price reduction helps not only to boost domestic travel demand for Mount Tai, but also to promote the integrated development of all-for-one tourism in the region and improve the image of Tai'an city.