XI'AN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi'an, an ancient Chinese capital and a major tourist city in the northwest, is to ban residents from keeping large dogs in downtown areas from next month, local authorities said on Tuesday.

Residents will not be allowed to raise large dogs inside the Third Ring Road of Xi'an - home of the terra-cotta warriors and capital of Shaanxi Province. Residential areas, scenic spots, schools, hospitals and the grounds of companies outside the Third Ring Road are also off limits.

A total of 34 dog species are on the list, including the Chow, Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff and German Shepherd, according to the regulation that becomes effective on Feb. 1.

Other dog species with a shoulder height of more than half a meter are also covered, it said.

It is not the first time that Chinese cities have imposed strict restrictions on dog ownership. In May 2011, Shanghai introduced a policy that allows a family to keep just one dog.

Three months later, authorities in the southern city of Jiangmen banned residents from keeping any dogs in several districts, ordering them to resettle their dogs in 15 days. The ban was lifted nine days later after sparking criticism that the city had gone too far in restricting dogs.