TAIYUAN, Jan. 27-- Pingyao County in north China's Shanxi Province has banned fireworks in its ancient city conservation area to protect the wood and brick buildings, local authorities said on Monday.

The Chinese government is tightening fire controls at cultural heritage sites after a blaze at an ancient town in southwest China earlier this month.

On Jan. 10, Dukezong in Shangri-la County of Yunnan Province, known for well-preserved Tibetan homes, lost nearly 300 houses, or two-thirds of the entire town, in the worst fire in its 1,300-year history.

The 2,700-year-old Pingyao, located 616 km southwest of Beijing, was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. Pingyao is renowned for its 6.4-km-long well-preserved ancient city wall.

The fireworks ban was issued ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the nation's biggest holiday and a time when setting off fireworks is very popular.

Storage and sales of fireworks were both banned in the ancient city, while anyone violating the rule will be hit with a fine between 100 and 500 yuan (about 16.39 to 81.96 U.S.dollars), according to the announcement. Those who causes injuries or damage to other people's property will have to pay compensation, it added.