Wu Zhiming (CPPCC member): In pushing forward the plan for income doubling, statistics of low, middle and high-income groups should be calculated separately. This would enable the government to make better decisions. The low-income group is in desperate need of better.

If China's national economy operates normally, doubling incomes is attainable, despite persistent difficulties. During the past three decades, as income growth fell behind GDP development, a huge gap opened between the rich and poor. How to deal with this will be the biggest obstacle in the country's plans to boost earnings by 2020.

Theater Ticket Prices

Wu Bixia (NPC deputy, professor at Chinese Conservatory of Music): The average price of theater tickets in China is among the most expensive in the world, currently averaging 450 yuan ($72.36) against low-incomes of merely 2,000 yuan ($321.6) a month. In contrast, attending theaters in the United States will set you back $45, with low income at $3,000. Expensive tickets mean dwindling audiences and a declining interest in the performing arts. In such a climate both theaters and troupes stand to lose the foundation for growth. Prices need to be dropped to realize sustainable development within the local entertainment industry.

Wei Song (President of Shanghai Opera House): Theater ticket prices are too high. This is mainly due to an under-developed local market.

For instance, when Shanghai Opera House produced the classic Carmen in collaboration with Hong Kong Opera House last year, box office sales reached 1.2 million yuan ($193) during the first four shows. But renting the theater cost 800,000 yuan ($129). Such figures make you weary when planning a stage performance. After all, the result could be no profits.

Though most theaters are built with public taxes, people have yet to see any plausible return. Soaring costs have added to the rise in ticket prices.

Wang Wenping (General Manager of Qintai Theater in Wuhan, Hubei Province): Some argue that high theater rents cause rising prices. But theaters have their own difficulties. Even if troupes have their own facilities, the situation is unlikely to change. With a drama such as Teahouse, performer salaries, combined with various other relevant expenses, can reach 2 million yuan ($322). If the theater sells 1,500 tickets for every show, prices must be fixed at 600 yuan ($96) to make the effort worth while.

Thus, decreasing rent won't solve the problem. In foreign countries, theaters depend on government subsidies and donations from financial or charitable organizations. While also reducing costs, ticket prices remain low. I believe the government should do more to support the performing arts.

Yang Guoping (Art Director of Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group): European theaters derive income directly from government subsidies. Such financial allocation initiatives account for 54 percent of the annual earnings at Opernhause Zuerich in Switzerland. Opéra de Paris obtains more than 200 million euros ($261 million) from the Culture Ministry of France every year. In countries such as Japan and South Korea, governments impose restrictions on theater ticket prices via similar subsidies.

The Central Government should urge enterprises and organizations to sponsor public entertainment. From 2009 to 2012, our company spent 1 million yuan ($161) every year in support of Shanghai New Year Concert. In many developed countries, donating toward public events can be rewarded with tax reductions. If the Shanghai Municipal Government could issue such a favorable policy, more enterprises would be willing to back cultural pursuits.

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