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June 16, 2014

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Home » Metro » Society

Pay up, Rockbund tells wedding couples

By Yang Meiping | June 16, 2014, Monday | Print Edition

COUPLES looking to have pre-wedding photographs taken among the riverside glitz of the Rockbund development are being told they must pay for the privilege.

Combining historic and new buildings, luxury stores and cultural venues at the confluence of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, Rockbund is a popular backdrop for romantic photo shoots.

But when an office worker surnamed Wang and her Mr Right tried to have their pictures taken there one evening earlier this month, they were told by a security guard that they would have to pay a fee.

“I was upset as I’d planned for a long time to have my pre-wedding photographs taken at this beautiful place,” Wang told Shanghai Daily.

“It seems absurd to me that they can charge in what appears to be a public space.

“But if it is correct that they can charge, the management company should put a notice at the entrance stating this,” she added.

Unwilling to pay, Wang and her husband-to-be had their pictures taken in the surrounding area instead.

But they are not the only lovers to be disappointed.

Minghua Property Management Co, the property management company for Rockbund, has been charging for commercial photo shoots since last summer, reported the Oriental Morning Post.

A starting price of 300 yuan (US$48) for a two-hour shoot, plus 50 yuan for each additional hour, has seen many studios offering pre-wedding photograph services seek alternative locations, said the newspaper.

Minghua said it is charging in order to ensure safety and reduce disturbance in the elegant surroundings.

The property management company has placed roadblocks at Yuanmingyuan Road, patrolled by guards.

Pedestrians can take photographs on the road, but are forbidden to do so inside buildings and on their adjoining lawns, said a guard.

However, charges are levied for commercial photography, said a Minghua manager, surnamed Zhou.

This includes photography by professional studios, street shoots by clothing stores and model agencies and cosplay photo shoots.

“Before we charged for photography, we’d see at least 20 groups of people taking pre-wedding pictures here every day, which caused big disruptions. Some groups would even fight to get the best locations,” said Zhou.

“That’s unfair on our clients who pay to enjoy luxurious surroundings and an elegant environment, so we have to protect it,” she added.

However, while couples wanting pre-wedding photographs at Rockbund have to pay, those who would like pictures taken there on their wedding day need only give a 100 yuan deposit which is returned when they leave, Zhou said.

Zhou stressed that the company has been given permission from the city government to charge for commercial photography.

Zhou Shunguo, director of the management office of the Bund scenic zone in Huangpu District, supported the idea, saying it is reasonable for the company to take fees for commercial activities in the area, as it’s responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure in Rockbund.

He also pointed out that all other public spaces in the Bund are managed by the government and do not charge for photography.

Rockbund, a 16.4-hectare redevelopment by Master Development Co Ltd and Rockefeller Group, includes Yuanmingyuan Road and Park 33 in the north, Huqiu Road on the west and Beijing Road in the south.

It features 11 restored historic buildings, together with six new buildings in an area filled with luxury restaurants, hotels, shops and private clubs.

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