China has tightened the protection of its natural reserves and scenic spots, by releasing on Tuesday a new regulation to restrict film shooting and artistic performances in these areas.

"Some big-budget films and artistic performances these years are over-obsessed with economic returns, and have greatly damaged natural environment. Thus film shooting and artistic performances in natural reserves, scenic spots and sites of historic interest must be strictly restricted," said the regulation.

The regulation is jointly issued by the State Environmental Protection Administration, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Film shooting and artistic performances will only be allowed in experimental zones of nature reserves, outer sections of scenic spots and some cultural heritage sites, upon approval from relevant authorities.

People who violate the regulation will be dealt with harshly, the regulation said, citing damage remediation, monetary fines, and court charges in severe cases of environmental damage.

The State Environmental Protection Administration has already issued a similar regulation earlier this month to regulate film shooting, artistic performances in nature reserves and scenic sites.

China now has 2,349 natural reserves, covering about 1.5 million square kilometers, or 15 percent of China's land area.

Last year, Chinese director Chen Kaige was fined 90,000 yuan (US$11,250) for littering and destroying vegetation while shooting his US$42 million film The Promise at a scenic nature reserve in Shangri La, in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2007)