Qing Dynasty imperial tombs near Beijing, which date back more than 300 years, are under threat from illegal mining, China News Service (CNS) reported on Monday.

The Eastern Tombs, known as Dongling in Chinese, form the largest preserved imperial mausoleum complex in China, housing the remains of 161 members of the Qing Dynasty royal family, including five emperors and 15 empresses. It was listed as a world cultural heritage site in 2000.

But the tombs are located at the foot of a mountain in Zunhua County, Hebei Province, 125 kilometers east of Beijing, in an area rich in iron ore.

"Illegal mining started two years ago with mining reaching a depth of 50 to 80 meters," said a villager from Huida Village.

According to CNS, illegal mining has destroyed part of the vegetation of the Shashan mountain, which is only 200 meters from Huiling, one of the Eastern Tombs.

The night reverberates with the sound of explosions from within the mines and the iron ore is shipped out during the daytime.

"The windows of the nearby houses have been damaged by the violent explosions," said the villager.

"The iron ore content here is more than 45 percent, and the daily output is 700 tons," a miner was quoted by CNS as saying.

He added that the price of the local iron ore was 220 yuan per ton, and the net profit gained by each mine can reach 150,000 to 200,000 yuan per day.

"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," an unnamed source from the tombs told CNS.

China's cultural heritage protection law prescribes that no explosions, mining or drilling are allowed near protection areas.

A worker who is responsible for safeguarding the tombs said that the administrative department of Eastern Tombs had no legal authority to prevent the illegal mining.

A village head said that the illegal mine owners in the Eastern Tombs area had a wide network of connections.

"Illegal mining stopped during an investigation and resumed after the inspection had been completed," a village head said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)