Chinese rail company damages 3,000-year-old relics: state media

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

SHANGHAI (AFP) — A Chinese construction company severely damaged relics dating back more than 3,000 years while building a section of a high-speed rail linking Beijing and Shanghai, state media reported Tuesday.

Work was halted on the section of rail in the eastern city of Nanjing and the company faces a fine of up to 500,000 yuan (73,000 dollars) for ignoring warnings that the site contained ancient treasures, the China Daily said.

"These precious cultural relics absolutely must be excavated before construction continues," Nanjing's Cultural Heritage Bureau deputy director Yang Qinghua was quoted as saying. "You can't just ignore them."

Nearly 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet) of the site was damaged last week when the company shrugged off experts'...