A top Chinese TV actress has been slapped with a $46million tax fine by Beijing authorities and producers have been ordered not to hire her any more. 

Beijing is on a mission to rein in what it calls 'chaotic fan culture' and celebrity excess after a spate of scandals in recent months that have taken down China's biggest entertainers including singer Kris Wu, who was arrested on suspicion of rape earlier this month.

Shanghai tax authorities on Friday fined Zheng Shuang 299 million yuan ($46million) for tax evasion and undeclared income between 2019 and 2020 while filming a TV series, according to an online statement. 

Zheng, 30, became a household name in China after starring in the hit 2009 remake of Taiwanese drama 'Meteor Shower', and a string of successful series and movies afterwards.

China's state broadcasting regulator also pulled Zheng's offending TV drama and ordered producers not to hire her for future shows.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television added it had 'zero tolerance' for tax evasion, 'sky-high pay' and 'yin-yang contracts', referring to the shady contracts commonly used in Chinese showbiz to obscure actors' real pay.

Meanwhile, references to film star Zhao Wei were wiped from video streaming sites as Beijing steps up its campaign against celebrity culture. 

State media has gone into overdrive urging changes to China's entertainment culture.