An odd-even ban on car use will be implemented on heavily polluted days in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, the city government announced on Wednesday.

According to an emergency plan on heavy air pollution, cars, including those from outside Guangzhou, will be banned from the road depending on whether their number plates end in odd or even numbers when a red alert is issued.

A red alert will be issued if the air quality index (AQI) exceeds 300 for 48 hours, and emergency responses will start.

Emergency vehicles, taxis and buses are not subject to the ban. According to local transport department statistics, Guangdong has over 2.5 million motor vehicles.

Similar measures have been rolled out in places like Shanxi and Hebei provinces.

Xinhua