Red carpet and flower welcoming ceremonies, banquets and gift-giving are all banned to "slam the brakes on extravagance and waste", the newspaper adds.

BBC: China media: Mekong justice

It quoted a Sarft official as saying that the move was in response to repeated calls by the authorities for people to practise thrift and shun extravagance and waste.

BBC: China bans luxury gift adverts in austerity push

In another response to the calls for people to shun extravagance and waste, China's TV watchdog has ordered all radio and television channels to cut advertising suggesting "gift giving, " the official Xinhua News Agency reported this week.

NPR: Leaner New Year: China Tones Down The Celebrations

The military has issued stricter spending rules to curb waste and extravagance and calls for priority spending on preparations for battle, high-tech weaponry and training, according to Xinhua.

BBC: China media: No support for Abe