The announcement was made by the Beijing municipal bureau of land and resources and the public security bureau and orders all unlicensed coal mines to shut down immediately, including dismantling equipment, sacking miners and surrendering explosives.

Mine operators have 15 days to comply with the order and be eligible for a reduced punishment or possibly escape punishment altogether.

After the 15-day period those ignoring the order could face a jail term of at least 10 years.

No reason behind the ban was revealed; however, Chinese press have been quick to suggest the initiative is a bid to avoid negative press to the region caused by an accident or death at one of the thousands of small mines.

China is notorious for its frequent deaths and accidents at coal mines with 4700 fatalities officially recorded last year, although that figure could be much higher as reports indicate that many deaths are not put on record.

The shutdown effort has been boosted by a reward of up to 10,000 yuan - or about $US1320 - for anybody offering information to police that assists in an illegal mine being located and shut down.