A café in eastern China has started to charge customers an 'air-purifying fee' on top of normal bills after it installed machines to provide fresher air. The café manager said the shop has begun operating eight air purifiers 24 hours a day. By charging a one yuan (11p) 'air-purifying fee' per person, the café hopes customers will pay more attention to the growing pollution issue facing China, reported the People's Daily Online. Fantasy Café is one of the first establishments in China to start charging an 'air-purifying fee' A label is put on every table to alert customers about the surcharge which costs 11p per person . The two-storey Fantasy Café is located in downtown Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang Province. The decision has proved popular among customers, who are mainly students and white collar workers. Many say they are happy to pay extra for breathing healthier air while enjoying coffee and meals. A label is put on every table stating clearly that there is an air-purifying surcharge. 'As soon as the customers come in, we will make it clear that there will be a one yuan surcharge for cleaner air,' said manager, Mr Sun, toHangzhou Network. 'If the customers can't accept it, they can choose not to come,' he added. A customer told the same reporter: 'I think this is a new way of running business. I feel more comfortable eating my meal here with so many purifiers in operation.' The café opened in July last year and offers various Western drinks and snacks, such as latte (£4), tiramisu coffee (£5), Spanish cured meat platter (£18) and pan-fried foie gras (£9.60). Serving a variety of Western drinks and foods, the café is popular among young people . Owner Zhu Ze, 50, bought the air purifiers earlier this year for around 100,000 yuan (£1,080). Mr Zhu told Hangzhou Network that his business has grown dramatically since he started using the devices. 'My goal is to remind my customers that we spent a lot of effort on providing fresh air,' he added. Customers say they are happy to pay extra for breathing healthy air while enjoying coffee and meals . Like other cities in China, Hangzhou – which is surrounded by some of the finest landscapes in China, such as the West Lake – has been battling with air pollution. The city of nine million suffered heavy smog on 154 days in 2014. According to People's Daily Online, Hangzhou ranks number one in China in terms of vehicles per capita. The city's 1.26 million automobiles are the main cause of the poor air quality. Earlier this month, Chinese state media published a set of stunning aerial pictures which show the hundreds of thousands of vehicles thrown on the scrap heap in a sprawling 'car graveyard' as Hangzhou government aggressively aims to cut back emissions.
Customer being charged one yuan (11p) extra as an ‘air-purifying fee’
Eight air purifiers operate 24 hours a day between two floors.
Manager says move will raise awareness about air pollution.
Customers said they think fresher air makes their drinks more enjoyable.
The café is located in Hangzhou, which had 154 days of smog last year.