Chinese archaeologists are facing a desperate race against time to save treasures from sites earmarked for development ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

According to reports, billions of dollars are being spent on new building projects ahead of the sporting event and archaeologists are working tirelessly to save as many artefacts as possible as they are unearthed by construction crews.

Some archaeologists are believed to have been following bulldozers in Beijing in a bid to save cultural relics and officials have reported that more than 700 ancient tombs have been found on Olympic construction sites and over 1,500 artefacts unearthed, some dating back 2,000 years, according to China Daily.

Director of the Chinese State Administration and Cultural Heritage, Shan Jixiang, is calling on local officials to carry out archaeological surveys of sites before construction begins.

China's rapid economic growth in recent years means that many ancient sites have been placed at risk and the country is now examining the processes in place for protecting its cultural and archaeological heritage.

The Chinese government has recently unveiled funding that will provide much needed protection for 100 of the nation's most important historical sites, including the ruins of Xi'an, the Great Wall and the Xinjiang section of the Silk Road.