BEIJING - A new factor in selecting model families in Beijing has sparked controversy on whether purchasing power should be listed as a requirement to be a "harmonious family".

The selection, which started in early 1950s, is to be based on new standards to "fit the character of the times", the city's women's federation, which hosts the selection, said in a statement.

The new standards require candidates to "frequently do shopping, sightseeing and dining together", as well as other contemporary activities such as "frequently surfing the Internet".

Original qualifications include being patriotic and law-abiding, and family togetherness.

Families who meet the new standards will be awarded the title Harmonious Family, a new name the federation has chosen to replace Five-Merit Family.

Zhang Min's family was awarded five-merit status in 2010 for their devotion to public welfare.

The family had invited two students and a teacher from earthquake-hit Wenchuan, Sichuan province, to spend the Chinese New Year in Beijing. "We had a meaningful festival," she said.

Feng Zhu, a 22-year-old resident of Xicheng district, said the new standards reflected a more colorful and interesting lifestyle.

"Travel, shopping and surfing the Internet can increase communication among family members and also bring more topics into daily life," Feng said.

However, Zhang Fa, 25, who lives in Fengtai district, thought the standards were unreasonable. "If a family is poor but has a rich spiritual life, it still deserves to be named a harmonious family."

Cao Yin contributed to this story.