A land dispute prompted nearly 500 villagers to block a highway and a railway line in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Thursday, local authorities said Friday.

The protestors converged at an intersection of a railway and a national highway in Fujin City at around 9.30 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from provincial authorities.

Police tried to persuade the protesters to disperse but protesters fought back violently, injuring some police and damaging some vehicles. The protestors returned home at around 8 p.m.

Senior provincial officials including deputy governor Du Jiahao have arrived in Fujin City to deal with the incident.

The national highway the protestors converged on links Heilongjiang and south China's Hainan Province.