(XINHUA)

Famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou was confirmed as having young children with Chen Ting whom he married in 2011, in violation of the country's birth control policy. The confirmation came from family-planning authorities in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, on December 2.

He has admitted his wrong doing and made apologies to the public, but denied that he has seven children in total with various women.

Zhang has won numerous awards and worldwide recognition. But despite his contributions, he has sparked criticism for having more children than the policy allows.