Chinese Internet users often bemoan the fact that China's wealthy are able to easily skirt the country's one-child policy by simply paying the fines. But local officials appear to be making a point when it comes to one high-profile offender.

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou and his wife , Chen Ting, were fined 7.48 million yuan ($1.2 million) by the family planning bureau of Binhu district in the eastern city of Wuxi for having three children, the district government said on its verified account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

The district government said the fine was based on Ms. Chen and Mr. Zhang's personal income in each of the three years before their children were born (2000, 2003 and 2005)—a total of 3.58 million yuan ($591,000). Aside from exceeding family planning limits, the couple wasn't married at the time of the births, according to the family-planning bureau.

Mr. Zhang couldn't be reached for comment. The director--noted for such films as 1991's "Raise the Red Lantern" and 1994's "To Live," as well as for directing Beijing's 2008 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies--had issued a statement last month admitting that he and his wife violated the policy and apologizing. In the statement, he said he and his wife have two sons and a daughter.

The issue has previously sparked intense debate online about China's one-child policy—which this year will be eased slightly to allow couples to have two children if one spouse is an only child.