Heavy traffic jam on the prairie road of Zhangbei, Hebei Province. (Photo/Chinanews.com)
(ECNS) -- A road known for its scenery in the northern Chinese county of Zhangbei of Hebei Province is encountering problems of heavy traffic, littering and damaged land after abolishing a controversial toll fee.
Known as "prairie road to paradise," it stretches 132 km to connect the grassland areas of Zhangbei with Chongli, a ski venue for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. It now attracts hordes of sightseers after stunning landscape photos taken from the road were spread online.
It became a controversial target in May for charging drivers and passengers a fee to pass.
Cars carrying tourists from across the nation have queued up along the road, with vendors touting local specialties, and herds of horses and camels put up for rent. Besides, a large number of camp sites have been setup by individuals.
On the open space near the road, it's common to find waste such as discarded plastic bags, fast noodle packages and used toys.
Guo Jinmei, a local sanitation worker, said she and eight others need to work from 8 am to 5 pm during tourist season, collecting about six bags of waste each day. The 66-year-old added that she had found some tourists urinating on the road.
Such popularity has attracted more private investors to build hostels and open restaurants in nearby villages. But locals mainly grow potatoes and lack the funds for further development.
In a short-lived policy, the county once charged each driver and passenger 50 yuan ($7.50) to use the road, citing costs for cleaning, infrastructure construction and maintenance. It later canceled the fee following outcries.
