All non-Chinese people will get free access to 12 major tourist sites in Anyang city, Henan province, under a new policy, which the country’s citizens believe "fawns over foreigners".

The program, which will continue until the end of the year, is designed to attract more foreign tourists, who are smaller in number than domestic travelers to the city, the Anyang tourism bureau said.

Overseas tourists will only have to show their passports to enter historical spots like Yinxu - the ruins of the last capital of China’s Shang Dynasty （1766 BC - 1050 BC） - one of the oldest and largest archaeological sites in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chinese, however, will have to cough up 50 yuan （$7.3） for a ticket.

"We are trying to spread the Chinese culture. We think Anyang should have tourists from all over the world," said Zhang Jianguo, director of Anyang tourism bureau.

Many netizens expressed their anger at the policy, which was described as "fawning over foreigners" on popular portal Sina.com.

The website held an online poll of 19,291 people and found 92 percent did not support the program and only 4 percent thought it was a good idea.

It also found that 52 percent thought it stemmed from a "weird inclination to treat foreigners better", and 36 percent "want to know why do the Chinese have to pay".

A netizen named "A Xiang" said: "Foreigners can afford to pay for the tickets, but those who can’t are local citizens and students, who may come to Anyang if the tourist spots were made free for all."

Another person named Yikeshu said: "I doubt a foreigner will make his plans to visit China only because a city has made some tourists spots free for him."