While those on the receiving end of the charge were unhappy, the idea has been welcomed by many Chinese social media users. "I'd agree to the fee!" declares one person on the Sina Weibo microblogging site , while another says they would happily pay more for clean air. One user suggests that the government should follow suit to deal with the country's severe smog problems. But some criticise the way the owners collected the cash. "Paying is not the problem," writes one person. "The problem is being informed in advance and obtaining consent."