The two-day-long inspection, with a focus on fighting fake and illegal antiques, aims to better protect consumers' interests and ensure the healthy growth of the city's cultural relics market, noted Kong Fanzhi, vice-director of the bureau.

Kong added that increasing numbers of imitation antiques have become a headache for consumers.

He added that such copies are considered "fake antiques."

Some extremely precious antiques like aged rosewood furniture and ancient stone inscriptions cannot enter the market without official certification.

Kong further emphasized that State laws prohibit the sale of all antiques produced before 1795.

Yesterday morning, the bureau, together with Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce and archaeologists, inspected an unlicensed antique furniture store on the northeastern outskirts of the city. The investigators discovered hordes of false goods marked at amazingly high prices.

Some "ancient furniture," archaeologists revealed, were only a few dozen years old.

Officials with the bureau said the sale of replicas is not against the law, but sellers should point out the true age of the copies to consumers.

Bureau officials also reminded consumers that all legal antiques possess a check mark from the bureau.

But these marks only indicate the quality and worthiness of the antiques, explained the officials, adding that determining the price of antiques is left to sellers and buyers.

The bureau will inspect three more major antique markets today.

All antiques stores involved in fraudulent activities will be shut down for further investigation, and fake and illegal antiques will be confiscated, the bureau promised.

(China Daily 10/17/2001)