China will severely punish behavior that causes damage to scenic spots with the implementation of a newly revised regulation, according to a source with the Ministry of Construction.

The government has revised the regulation on the environmental protection of scenic spots, instituting fines ranging from 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) to 1 million yuan (US$125,000) for damage caused to scenery, vegetation and landforms.

Those responsible for damage of this kind must restore the natural landscape or dismantle structures that are harmful to the environment within a time limit.

There was impetus for the revisions after the producers of Chen Kaige's fantasy movie, The Promise, were admonished in August for damaging a historic site in Shangrila in southwestern China's Yunnan Province.

The film crew was accused of littering and destroying vegetation at a scenic nature reserve known as Blue Sky Pond during filming in 2004.

The producers were fined 90,000 yuan in accordance with a provincial regulation, and a Shangrila county deputy magistrate was fired for dereliction of duty.

Governments have to rely on local regulations because the provisions in national regulations are unclear and penalties weak.

"With the new regulation, the resources and the environment of China's scenic spots will be better protected."

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)