Chinese authorities have shut down 700 pornographic websites in less than two weeks as part of a massive campaign to clean up the Internet.

According to figures from the Ministry of Public Security, 224 suspects have been detained since July 16, when the crackdown began.

Since it publicized two telephone numbers and a website for people to report porn sites, the ministry has received 733 phone calls and 16,711 online tips.

Lewd photos, videos and articles attracting Internet users to join "pornographic activities online or organizing sex trade" were targeted.

Wu Mingshan, an official in charge of the campaign, said "a clean online environment" has been established in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Liaoning province in the northeast and Guangdong in the south.

Other future targets include online criminal activities like fraud and gambling, he said.

Source: China Daily/agencies