About 28,000 ancient coins were unearthed in Shunyi district of Beijing as people were planting trees, Mirror Evening News reported on Thursday.

The coins, with a combined weight of 70 kg, were found in Qianlingshang village and can be dated to 2,100 years ago, according to the district's cultural relics management department.

It was the first time that a large number of such artifacts had been found in the area, the news report said. Experts were continuing research to learn more.