China's Ministry of Culture said 5.48 million illegal publications had been confiscated during the first six months of the year, in a nationwide crackdown ahead of National Day celebrations starting Oct. 1.

More than 21.72 million illegal video and audio products and 21,681 electronic games machines and circuit wafers had been seized, the ministry said.

It said various levels of cultural departments received 33,990 public reports on illegal sales or production of cultural products and the illegal operation of Internet cafes.

The ministry said the figures were similar to those during the same period last year.

The ministry launched nationwide inspection of the country's cultural markets at the beginning of the year.

The focal points of the inspection were audio-video piracy, illegal admission of minors to Internet cafes and books and magazines with lewd content.

Distribution of pornography is illegal in China.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2009)