Chinese authorities shut down 47,000 illegal Internet bars during a nationwide crackdown between February and December 2004, according to sources with the Ministry of Culture.

During the crackdown, which was conducted jointly by the culture and education ministries, public security units and others, 21,000 Internet bars were ordered to suspend operations until they underwent an overhaul and 2,131 had their business licenses revoked.

Unlicensed Internet bars and those that have been admitting minors and engaged in dissemination of harmful cultural information have been the focus of the crackdown, which aims to create a more wholesome and safer environment for minors.

In an attempt to phase out illegally operated businesses through market forces, government agencies have been promoting the development of Internet bar chains, according to the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2005)