Local youngsters and their parents in Shanghai for the first time will be able to ask for free tickets to entertainment sites and scenic spots during this year's International Children's Day period starting on May 26 by clicking on the Internet.

Starting from today, the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese Youth League has teamed up with 24 local educational, entertainment and tourism sites to offer more than 70,000 free children's tickets and discounted family packages at the Website (www.smmail.cn).

The free sites include Oriental Greenland in suburban Qingpu District, Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Shanghai Museum, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Park as well as Shanghai Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Facility.

We are trying to offer exciting choices for youngsters to celebrate their own festival,'' said Wang Zheng, a committee official, adding that the online distribution could help to raise efficiency and prevent ticket waste.

Youngsters asking for tickets should be local elementary school students or migrant children aged between seven and 15. Parents asking for tickets are required to pass identification process by registering for a sm-mail account at the Website.

The ticketing Webpage has a map of Shanghai, on which the 24 sites were clearly marked. By clicking specific sites and site introduction more ticket information will also be available.

Tickets will be posted for free to the recipients' designated address. They will be valid during the International Children's Day period from May 26 to June 3, committee officials said.

Those who don't have an Internet access can dial the hotline 968888. The offer will run through May 22.