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BEIJING - Imperial Qing dynasty tombs near Beijing which date back more than 300 years are under threat from illegal mining, Xinhua news agency reports.
The Eastern Tombs form the largest preserved imperial mausoleum complex in China, housing the remains of 161 members of the Qing Dynasty royal family, including emperors, empresses and imperial concubines. They were listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2000.
But the tombs are located at the foot of a mountain in Hebei province, in an area rich in iron ore. "Illegal mining started two years ago with mining reaching a depth of 50 to 80m," Xinhua quoted a villager as saying. "The night reverberates with the sound of explosions from within the mines."
The daily output of iron ore was 700 tonnes, a miner said.
"Most of the Eastern Tombs are wooden buildings, which are a fire hazard. Some masonry tombs, facilities and artworks are exposed to the elements, so they are easily worn away. The mining aggravates the damage to the Eastern Tombs," a source from the tombs said.
China's cultural heritage protection law prohibits explosions, mining or drilling near protected areas.
- REUTERS
