By Li Hongmei

Renowned film director Zhang Yimou yesterday paid 7.48 million yuan (US$1.23 million) in fines imposed for fathering three "extra" children in contravention of China's one-child policy -- Just one day ahead of the deadline.

The Binhu District family planning bureau in the eastern city of Wuxi said the sum had been transferred to its bank around midday.

The money will now go to the national treasury to be redistributed to local governments to boost public services.

In a letter from the bureau dated January 9, Zhang and his wife Chen Ting were given 30 days to pay the fines.

During the Spring Festival break, Zhang, Chen, their three children and Zhang's mother-in-law were on holiday in the United States, according to photographs posted online.

Following months of rumors that he had fathered up to seven children with different women, Zhang admitted in December he had two sons and a daughter with Chen, all born before they were married. He also has a daughter from a previous marriage.

His youngest three children were born in Beijing in 2001, 2004 and 2006.

Chen said they had delayed getting their marriage certificate because of concerns Zhang's identity would be revealed.

They registered their marriage in Wuxi, Chen's hometown, in 2011 to help the children get hukou (household registration) documents.

The family planing bureau sent investigators to several cities to collect evidence of the couple's income so they could determine the size of the fines.

Chen earned nothing in the three years in question. Zhang earned just 2,760 yuan in 2000, but 1.06 million yuan in 2003, and 2.5 million yuan in 2005.

Officials decided the fines should be 71,928 yuan for their first child, 2.2 million yuan for the second and 5.2 million yuan for the third.

On December 29, Zhang issued a public apology, saying both he and his parents held the traditional view that more children brought more happiness.

The 62-year-old is one of China's best-known filmmakers and also directed the dramatic opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.