Free parking time for roadside parking in urban areas of Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, will be extended from 15 minutes to 30 minutes starting on Tuesday, a senior official of the city said on Tuesday.

In addition, free temporary parking lots and zones will be designated based on public demand around areas such as kindergartens and primary schools, said Hou Gang, mayor of Nanning, at a news conference on Tuesday.

Local residents in Nanning have complained on online platforms about the high parking fees, saying temporary parking for a day can cost a hundred yuan, and even bicycles and electric bicycles are subject to charges, local media reported.

Residents have raised concerns about virtually all roadside sections in Nanning being designated as parking spaces managed by Nanning Huibo Parking Operation Service Co.

The local government has suspended the company's business and urged it to make corrections, according to a notice published on the official website of the Nanning municipal government on Monday night.

Hou bowed at the news conference to apologize for the inconvenience and insufficient management exposed in expensive parking fees.

By Zhao Ruixue and Shi Ruipeng