Chinese Net users are hotly debating whether its right for a local village in Lijiang, Yunnan Province to forbid tour guides from allowing tourists to rent down jackets for mountain top-touring from urban areas.

The Jiazi village committee said it started the ban this month to fine violators up to 200 yuan ($32) and confiscate unauthorized jackets to protect the village's jacket-renting business, a source of income for locals and a fund-generator for the area's agriculture.

Some Net users said that despite good intentions the new rule seems to be a bit misguided.

"The thing is that Lijiang scenic spot near Jiazi forbids you to wear your own jacket, so you have to go to a designated place to rent one. But if Jiazi villagers confiscate your jacket, you'll be left to freeze on the mountain," Net user ITlinshigong said. "So, there's something wrong with this new rule."

Net user Chaopingliangankuo compared the notice to that of a restaurant forbidding customers to take in their own beverages. But the user said that the rule would be more reasonable if they changed it to say that visitors are "permitted to rent whichever jackets they choose, but that Lijiang scenic spot also offers jackets for rent."

But Net user IVY_Youngxxx said that locals in Lijiang, which has seen a recent surge in tourists like Zhouzhuang, an ancient town in Jiangsu Province, deserve the right to protect their interests.

"If they don't make this rule, they won't earn enough money from tourists who visit their home. And without funds to maintain the site, it'll be ruined and no one will return. Then, the villagers will be left with nothing," the Net user said.

Global Times