Starting December 1, people can rake in up to 600,000 yuan ($86,000) for reporting illegal content, online or otherwise, double the 300,000 yuan under previous guidelines.

What counts as "illegal" content in China is broadly defined, but includes work that "endangers national unity", "leaks state secrets", and "disturbs social order" -- umbrella terms that are also sometimes used when authorities punish or silence Chinese dissidents and rights campaigners.

The new rules, published by a bureau under the top media regulator, come as Beijing ramps up controls on content.

Earlier this week the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it had "cleaned up" 9,800 accounts on Chinese social media platforms which it accused of spreading "politically harmful" information and rumours.

The internet regulator also chastised popular social media platforms WeChat and Weibo for negligence and "irresponsibility".