Beijing plans to raise bus height limits

Beijing buses are meant to be free for pre-school children

Beijing's pre-school children are meant to be allowed to ride on the city's buses for free.

But because they have gradually been getting taller, an increasing number are over the height limit of 110cm (3ft6) before they reach school age.

Now the city authorities are proposing to raise the limit to 120cm (3ft9), to allow more children to travel for free.

"The 110cm standard is outdated in the light of our children's physical development status," Quan Zhongmin, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee told Xinhua news agency.

Li Qing complained that she had to pay for her daughter's travel, even though she was still too young for school.

"My daughter is just five years old and is still attending kindergarten," she told Xinhua.

The news agency said the increased height of modern children was due to improved nutrition.

A survey by the National Physical Development Office with the General Administration of Sport showed that children have been getting progressively taller in recent years.