Shanghai restricts urban traffic

Shanghai is to adopt a watered-down version of the capital's traffic restrictions in a bid to clean the air, clear the roads and save energy.

Starting next month, vehicles belonging to the government or State-owned enterprises will be banned from the roads on one out of five weekdays in a system based on license plate numbers.

Unlike in Beijing, Shanghai's curbs will not apply to private cars even though "Shanghai's private vehicles are encouraged to follow the restrictions", Xinhua News Agency quoted an official as saying.