Chinese actor Zhou Jie, seen in a file photo, instigated a traffic conflict in which two security guards were injured Wednesday in northeastern Beijing, the Beijing Times reported Thursday. [File Photo: picwelt.com]

Actor Zhou Jie appears to have instigated a traffic conflict in which two security guards were injured Wednesday in northeastern Beijing.

The actor was reportedly driving a car to the city's 798 Art District when he became embroiled in a fight with four security guards working in the area, the Beijing Times reported Thursday.

Road construction since Saturday has led to snarled traffic in the western part of the art district. Cars have been asked to detour around iron blocks that were set up in the area.

Surveillance videos show a car approached the blocks around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The driver got off his car, gesturing at the security guards to remove the blocks.

A guard surnamed Zhao later told the newspaper that the driver was very rude when he was told to detour.

A quarrel ensued and the video shows the driver pushing a guard to the ground and kicking him several times.

The driver got back behind the wheel of the car and hit another guard standing in front trying to stop him. The car pushed the guard forward several meters then sped away.

Other guards in the vicinity called the police, and the injured guards were soon transported to the hospital. One guard suffered only minor injuries, but the other had to be hospitalized, the Beijing Times quoted a doctor as saying.

By the time the police arrived, the offending driver had already entered one of the art galleries.

Police later confirmed the driver was Zhou Jie, who is best known for his role in the "Huan Zhu Ge Ge" ("My Fair Princess") TV series.

Zhou Jie's agent denied the incident over the telephone.

Police are currently mediating between the two sides, the report says.

(CRI April 3, 2008)